Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “keratin” come from?

Keratin comes from German Keratin, from Ancient Greek κέρας meaning horn, from Proto-Indo-European ḱerh₂-.

keratin (English): The protein of which hair and nails are composed

Definitions

  1. The protein of which hair and nails are composed

Ancestry of “keratin”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanKeratinkeratin
2Ancient Greekκέραςhorn; horn as a material, or anything made of...
3Proto-Hellenic*kérats—

Words derived from “keratin”

  • keratinocyte
  • cytokeratin
  • keratinization
  • keratinous
  • keratinisation
  • keratinase
  • parakeratin
  • keratinize
  • keratinaceous
  • hyperkeratinization
  • neurokeratin
  • antikeratin
  • keratinise
  • nonkeratin
  • keratinosome
  • nonkeratinous
  • keratinogenesis
  • keratinoid
  • keratin
Every word from Proto-Hellenic *kérats →