Where does “polychitin” come from?
polychitin (English) comes from English chitin, from French chitine, from Latin chiton, from Ancient Greek χιτών, from Central Semitic kittan, from Swahili kitu, from Proto-Bantu kɪ̀ntʊ̀, from Proto-Bantu *-ntʊ̀.
polychitin (English): A polymer of chitin
Definitions
- A polymer of chitin
Ancestry of “polychitin”, step by step
polychitin traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English chitin
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | chitin | A complex polysaccharide, a polymer of... |
| 2 | French | chitine | chitin |
| 3 | Latin | chiton | mollusk |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | χιτών | man's tunic; tunic; coat of mail |
| 5 | Central Semitic | kittan | — |
| 6 | Swahili | kitu | thing |
| 7 | Proto-Bantu | kɪ̀ntʊ̀ | thing, object |
| 8 | Proto-Bantu | *-ntʊ̀ | — |
via English poly
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | poly | Polytechnic; Polyethylene; Polyurethane |
| 2 | Latin | polium | Alternative form of polion |
| 3 | Latin | polion | A strong-smelling plant, perhaps Teucrium... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | πόλιον | felty germander |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | πολιός | grey, grizzled, grizzly; bright, clear, serene; a... |
| 6 | Proto-Hellenic | poľľós | grey |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | polH-yós | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pelH- | pale, gray |