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”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European kleh₂u- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European kleh₂uyeti →Every word from Proto-Hellenic klāyyō →