Where does “scorpion” come from?

Scorpion comes from Latin scorpio, from Ancient Greek σκορπίος, ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European (s)ker- meaning to cut or scratch.

scorpion (English): Any of various arachnids of the order Scorpiones,...

Definitions

  1. Any of various arachnids of the order Scorpiones,...

Ancestry of “scorpion”, step by step

scorpion traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Middle English scorpioun

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishscorpiounA scorpion or a creature like one; Someone who...
2Old Englishsċorpioscorpion
3Latinscorpiō—
4Ancient Greekσκορπίοςscorpion; scorpionfish; scorpion furze
5Proto-Indo-European(s)ker-to cut off; to turn, bend
6Proto-Indo-Europeansek-to cut, cut off, sever

via Middle English skorpioun

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishskorpiounAlternative form of scorpioun
2Germanskorpionscorpion arachnid of order
3Middle High Germanscorpiōn—

via Latin scorpio

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinscorpioa scorpion; a kind of prickly sea fish, possibly...
2Ancient Greekσκόρπιοςscorpion
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sek- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)ker- →Every word from Ancient Greek σκορπίος →