Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cytoskeleton” come from?

Cytoskeleton comes from Ancient Greek κύτος meaning "cell" and σκελετός meaning "dried body," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European (s)kelh₁- meaning "to dry."

cytoskeleton (English): A matrix of intercellular protein, in the forms...

Definitions

  1. A matrix of intercellular protein, in the forms...

Ancestry of “cytoskeleton”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishskeletonThe system that provides support to an organism,...
2New Latinsceleton—
3Ancient Greekσκελετόςdried up, withered; dried body, mummy; skeleton
4Ancient Greekσκελλώto dry, dry up, to make dry, to parch; dry, dry...
5Proto-Indo-European(s)kelh₁-to parch, wither
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)kelh₁- →