Where does “microlichen” come from?

microlichen (English) comes from English lichen, from Latin līchēn, from Ancient Greek λειχήν, from Ancient Greek λείχω, from Proto-Indo-European leyǵʰ- — to lick.

microlichen (English): Any lichen with a very small thallus, resulting...

Definitions

  1. Any lichen with a very small thallus, resulting...

Ancestry of “microlichen”, step by step

microlichen traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English lichen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlichenAny of many symbiotic organisms, being...
2Latinlīchēna cryptogamic species of vegetation growing on trees, lichen
3Ancient GreekλειχήνLiverwort; Lichen-like disease affecting the skin...
4Ancient Greekλείχωto lick up
5Proto-Indo-Europeanleyǵʰ-to lick

via English micro

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmicroSmall, relatively small; short form of...
2Ancient Greekμικρόςlittle, small
3Proto-Indo-Europeanmēy-soft, tender, dear
Every word from Proto-Indo-European leyǵʰ- →Every word from Ancient Greek λείχω →Every word from Ancient Greek λειχήν →