Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “phocomelia” come from?

phocomelia (English) comes from Ancient Greek μέλος, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.

phocomelia (English): A congenital disorder of the limbs, the affected...

Definitions

  1. A congenital disorder of the limbs, the affected...

Ancestry of “phocomelia”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekμέλοςpart of a body, limb, member, part; part of a...
2Proto-Indo-Europeanmel-soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub
3Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey- →