Where does “claustrophobia” come from?

Claustrophobia comes from Latin claustrum, meaning enclosed space, derived from the verb claudere meaning to close, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European kel- meaning to conceal.

claustrophobia (English): The fear of closed, tight places

Definitions

  1. The fear of closed, tight places

Ancestry of “claustrophobia”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinclaustruma bar, band, bolt; gate, door, bulwark; enclosure
2Latinclauderepresent active infinitive of claudō;...
3LatinclaudoI shut, close, lock; I imprison, confine; I...
4Proto-Italicklaudōclose

Words derived from “claustrophobia”

Every word from Proto-Italic klaudō →Every word from Latin claudo →Every word from Latin claudere →