Where does “polywool” come from?

polywool (English) comes from English poly, from Latin polium, from Latin polion, from Ancient Greek πόλιον, from Ancient Greek πολιός, from Proto-Hellenic poľľós, from Proto-Indo-European polH-yós, from Proto-Indo-European pelH- — pale, gray.

polywool (English): A mixture of polymer and wool used as a filter material in aquariums

Definitions

  1. A mixture of polymer and wool used as a filter material in aquariums

Ancestry of “polywool”, step by step

polywool traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English poly

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpolyPolytechnic; Polyethylene; Polyurethane
2LatinpoliumAlternative form of polion
3LatinpolionA strong-smelling plant, perhaps Teucrium...
4Ancient Greekπόλιονfelty germander
5Ancient Greekπολιόςgrey, grizzled, grizzly; bright, clear, serene; a...
6Proto-Hellenicpoľľósgrey
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanpolH-yós
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanpelH-pale, gray

via English Wool

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishWoolOS grid ref SY8486
2Middle Englishwollewool coat of sheep, especially when used to make fabric
3Old Englishwullwool
4Proto-West Germanicwulluwool
5Proto-Germanicwullōwool
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂wĺ̥h₁neh₂wool
7Proto-Indo-European-nósCreates verbal adjectives from roots
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pelH-Every word from Proto-Indo-European polH-yósEvery word from Proto-Hellenic poľľós