Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “polydactylism” come from?

polydactylism (English) comes from English polydactyl, from Ancient Greek πολυδάκτυλος, from Ancient Greek δάκτυλος, from Hebrew דקל, from German Dackel, from German Dachshund, from German Dachs, from Old High German dahs — to sire, beget.

polydactylism (English): The possession of more than the normal number of...

Definitions

  1. The possession of more than the normal number of...

Ancestry of “polydactylism”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpolydactylPolydactylous; A polydactylous animal
2Ancient Greekπολυδάκτυλοςhaving many toes
3Ancient Greekδάκτυλοςfinger; measure of length, the breadth of a...
4Hebrewדקלpalm tree; date; dachshund
5GermanDackeldachshund; a similar-looking dog, e.g. a basset...
6GermanDachshunddachshund; a similar-looking dog, e.g. a basset...
7GermanDachsbadger; genitive singular of Dach
8Old High Germandahs—
9Proto-West Germanicþahsbadger
10Proto-Germanicþahsuzbadger
11Proto-Indo-Europeantótḱus—
12Proto-Indo-Europeantetḱ-to create, produce; to cut, hew
13Proto-Indo-Europeanteḱ-to sire, beget
Every word from Proto-Indo-European teḱ- →