Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “clitoris” come from?

Clitoris comes from Latin clitoris, from Greek kleitoris, of unknown origin.

clitoris (English): A sensitive elongated erectile organ at the...

Definitions

  1. A sensitive elongated erectile organ at the...

Ancestry of “clitoris”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinclitorisof the clitoris
2Ancient Greekκλειτορίςclitoris
3Ancient Greekκλείωshut, close, bar; enclose, shut in; Epic form of...
4Proto-Hellenicklāyyō—
5Proto-Indo-Europeankleh₂uyeti—
6Proto-Indo-Europeankleh₂u-nail, pin, hook - instruments, of old use for...

Words derived from “clitoris”

  • clitoral
  • clitoridectomy
  • clitorectomy
  • clitorally
  • clitorism
  • clitoric
  • clitorislike
  • clitorised
  • clitoritis
  • clitorial
  • clitorially
  • macroclitoris
  • クリトリス
  • 클리토리스
  • คลิตอริส
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kleh₂u- →