Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “duodenum” come from?

Duodenum comes from Medieval Latin duodenum digitorum, literally "twelve fingers," from Latin duodeni meaning "twelve" and digitus meaning "finger," ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European deyǵ- and deyḱ-.

duodenum (English): The first part of the small intestine, starting...

Definitions

  1. The first part of the small intestine, starting...

Ancestry of “duodenum”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Medieval Latinduodenum digitorumspace of twelve digits
2Latindigitorumgenitive plural of digitus; of fingers
3Latindigitusa finger, toe, digit; a twig
4Proto-Indo-Europeandeyḱ-to point out

Words derived from “duodenum”

  • pancreaticoduodenectomy
  • pancreatoduodenectomy
  • duodenitis
  • megaduodenum
  • mesoduodenum
  • gastroduodenitis
  • duodenumed
  • cystoduodenal
Every word from Proto-Indo-European deyḱ- →