Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “pterygium” come from?

pterygium (English) comes from Ancient Greek πτερύγιον, from Ancient Greek πτέρυξ, from Ancient Greek πτερόν, from Proto-Indo-European péth₂r̥, from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- — to spread out; to fly.

pterygium (English): An abnormal mass of tissue in the corner of the...

Definitions

  1. An abnormal mass of tissue in the corner of the...

Ancestry of “pterygium”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekπτερύγιονwing, fin
2Ancient Greekπτέρυξwing; feathers; fins
3Ancient Greekπτερόνfeather; wing; Any winged creature
4Proto-Indo-Europeanpéth₂r̥wing; feather
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpeth₂-to spread out; to fly

Words derived from “pterygium”

  • basipterygium
  • pterygial
  • basipterygial
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- →