Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “mammary” come from?

Mammary derives from French mammaire, from Latin mamma (breast) combined with the Latin suffix -arius (pertaining to), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European -yós.

mammary (English): Of or relating to mamma or breast; A mamma

Definitions

  1. Of or relating to mamma or breast; A mamma

Ancestry of “mammary”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchmammairemammary
2Latinmammaa breast; an udder; a pap; a teat, a dug
3Latinferō—
4Proto-Italicferōcarry, bear
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰéretito be carrying
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰēr-shiny, light brown

Words derived from “mammary”

  • inframammary
  • intramammary
  • submammary
  • extramammary
  • retromammary
  • intermammary
  • intramammarily
  • perimammary
  • mammaric
  • -mar-
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰēr- →