Where does “medusa” come from?

medusa (English) comes from English Medusa, from Ancient Greek Μέδουσα, from Ancient Greek μέδω, from Proto-Indo-European mēd-, from Proto-Indo-European med- — to measure; to give advice; healing.

medusa (English): A jellyfish; specifically, a non-polyp form of individual cnidarians, consisting of a gelatinous umbrella-shaped bell and trailing tentacles

Definitions

  1. A jellyfish; specifically, a non-polyp form of individual cnidarians, consisting of a gelatinous umbrella-shaped bell and trailing tentacles

Ancestry of “medusa”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishMedusaThe youngest and only mortal of the three gorgon sisters, killed by Perseus
2Ancient GreekΜέδουσαMedusa
3Ancient Greekμέδωto protect, rule over
4Proto-Indo-Europeanmēd-to measure
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmed-to measure; to give advice; healing

Words derived from “medusa”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European med- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European mēd- →Every word from Ancient Greek μέδω →