Where does “laterality” come from?

Laterality comes from English lateral, from Latin lateralis, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European tl̥h₂tós meaning "side."

laterality (English): the state or quality of being lateral

Definitions

  1. the state or quality of being lateral

Ancestry of “laterality”, step by step

laterality traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English lateral

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlateralTo the side; of or pertaining to the side;...
2LatinlaterālisOf or belonging to the side; lateral
3Latinlātuswide, broad
4LatincaudaA tail
5Proto-Italickaudātail
6Proto-Indo-Europeankeh₂udeh₂—

via English ity

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishity—
2Ingrian-uUsed to form nouns from verbs
Every word from Proto-Indo-European keh₂udeh₂ →Every word from Proto-Italic kaudā →Every word from Latin cauda →