Where does “germplasm” come from?

germplasm (English) comes from English Germ, from English German, from Latin Germānia, from Latin Germānī, from Latin Germānus, from Latin germen, from Proto-Italic genamen, from Proto-Indo-European ǵénh₁mn̥ — to produce, to beget, to give birth.

germplasm (English): Seeds or tissues maintained for the purpose of animal or plant breeding, preservation or other research uses

Definitions

  1. Seeds or tissues maintained for the purpose of animal or plant breeding, preservation or other research uses

Ancestry of “germplasm”, step by step

germplasm traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Germ

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishGerma German person
2EnglishGermanA native or inhabitant of Germany; a person of...
3LatinGermāniaGermany in its various senses, including
4LatinGermānīNative people or tribes of ancient Germania, mentioned by Julius Caesar and Tacitus
5LatinGermānus
6Latingermenshoot, sprout, bud; germ, seed, origin; embryo,...
7Proto-Italicgenamen
8Proto-Indo-Europeanǵénh₁mn̥offspring, seed
9Proto-Indo-Europeanǵenh₁-to produce, to beget, to give birth

via English plasm

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishplasmprotoplasm; A mold or matrix in which anything is...
2Latinplasmasecond-person singular present active imperative...
3Ancient Greekπλάσμαsomething formed, figure, image; counterfeit,...
4Ancient GreekπλάσσωI form, mould, shape, sculpt; I form, train a...
5Proto-Hellenicpláťťō
6Proto-Hellenicplátʰyō
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵenh₁-
germplasm — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer