Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “heteropteran” come from?

heteropteran (English) comes from Translingual Heteroptera, from Ancient Greek ἕτεροπτερος, from Ancient Greek πτερόν, from Proto-Indo-European péth₂r̥, from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- — to spread out; to fly.

heteropteran (English): Any of very many insects of the suborder...

Definitions

  1. Any of very many insects of the suborder...

Ancestry of “heteropteran”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1TranslingualHeteroptera—
2Ancient Greekἕτεροπτεροςdifferent wings
3Ancient Greekπτερόνfeather; wing; Any winged creature
4Proto-Indo-Europeanpéth₂r̥wing; feather
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpeth₂-to spread out; to fly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- →