Where does “pelican” come from?
Pelican comes from Middle English pelican, from Old English pellican, from Latin pelecanus, from Ancient Greek πελεκάν, ultimately from Ancient Greek πέλεκυς meaning axe, alluding to the bird's bill shape.
pelican (English): Any of various seabirds of the family...
Definitions
- Any of various seabirds of the family...
Ancestry of “pelican”, step by step
pelican traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English pelican
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | pelican | — |
| 2 | Old English | pellican | pelican |
| 3 | Latin | pelecānus | pelican |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | πελεκάν | pelican |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | πέλεκυς | two-edged axe for felling trees; battle axe,... |
via Middle English pellicane
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | pellicane | — |
via Middle English pellican
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | pellican | pelican |