Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “perineum” come from?

Perineum comes from Latin perinaeum, from Ancient Greek περίνεος, built from περί meaning "around" and Proto-Indo-European per- and pr̥tós.

perineum (English): The region between the human genitalia and anus

Definitions

  1. The region between the human genitalia and anus

Ancestry of “perineum”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinperinaeum—
2Latinperinaeon—
3Ancient GreekπερίναιονAlternative form of περίνεος
4Ancient Greekπερί
5LatincambiumA change; cambium
6Gaulishcambionchange
7Proto-Celtickamboscurved; twisted, crooked
8Proto-Indo-Europeankamp-to bend; crooked; crooked
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kamp- →