Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “molluscum” come from?

molluscum (English) comes from Latin molluscum, from Latin molluscus, from Latin mollis, from Latin molduis, from Proto-Italic moldus, from Proto-Indo-European *ml̥dus, from Proto-Indo-European (s)meld- — to soften, to melt.

molluscum (English): Any of various skin diseases marked by soft,...

Definitions

  1. Any of various skin diseases marked by soft,...

Ancestry of “molluscum”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinmolluscuma kind of fungus that grows on the maple tree;...
2Latinmolluscussoft
3Latinmollissoft, delicate to the touch; pliant, flexible,...
4Latinmolduis—
5Proto-Italicmoldus—
6Proto-Indo-European*ml̥dus—
7Proto-Indo-European(s)meld-to soften, to melt
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)meld- →