Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “lepidopteran” come from?

lepidopteran (English) comes from Translingual Lepidoptera, from Ancient Greek λεπίς, from Ancient Greek λέπω — peel, strip off the rind or husk.

lepidopteran (English): Any insect of the order Lepidoptera, the...

Definitions

  1. Any insect of the order Lepidoptera, the...

Ancestry of “lepidopteran”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1TranslingualLepidoptera—
2Ancient Greekλεπίςscale, flake, shell, husk; epithelial debris;...
3Ancient Greekλέπωpeel, strip off the rind or husk

Words derived from “lepidopteran”

  • macrolepidopteran
Every word from Ancient Greek λέπω →