Where does “half-metallic” come from?

half-metallic (English) comes from English metallic, from Latin metallicus, from Latin metallum, from Ancient Greek μέταλλον, from Ancient Greek μέταλλευειν — to mine, quarry.

half-metallic (English): Made half of a metal and half of some other...

Definitions

  1. Made half of a metal and half of some other...

Ancestry of “half-metallic”, step by step

half-metallic traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English metallic

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmetallicOf, relating to, or characteristic of metal; Made...
2Latinmetallicusyielding or abounding in metal; metallic; miner;...
3Latinmetallummetal; precious metals, especially gold or...
4Ancient GreekμέταλλονA mine, quarry, or salt pit; metal
5Ancient Greekμέταλλευεινto mine, quarry

via English half-metal

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishhalf-metalAny substance that acts as a conductor to electrons of one spin orientation, but as an insulator to those of the opposite orientation
Every word from Ancient Greek μέταλλευεινEvery word from Ancient Greek μέταλλονEvery word from Latin metallum