Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “grotto” come from?

Grotto comes from Italian grotta, from Latin crypta, from Ancient Greek κρύπτω meaning to hide or conceal, from Proto-Indo-European krāu-.

grotto (English): A small cave; An artificial cavern-like retreat;...

Definitions

  1. A small cave; An artificial cavern-like retreat;...

Ancestry of “grotto”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Italiangrottacave; grotto
2Medieval Latingrupta—
3Latincryptaunderground passage, tunnel; crypt; underground...
4Ancient Greekκρυπτόςconcealed, hidden, secret
5Ancient Greekκρύπτωto hide, cover; to conceal, obscure
6Proto-Indo-Europeankrāu-—

Words derived from “grotto”

  • grot
  • grottoed
  • grottolike
  • grottowork
  • grotbag
Every word from Proto-Indo-European krāu- →