Where does “spelunk” come from?
spelunk (English) comes from Middle English spelunke, from Old French spelonque, from Italian spelonca, from Latin spēlunca, from Ancient Greek σπῆλυγξ, from Ancient Greek σπέος — cave, cavern, grotto.
spelunk (English): A cave, cavern or grotto; To explore caves; To...
Definitions
- A cave, cavern or grotto; To explore caves; To...
Ancestry of “spelunk”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | spelunke | A spelunk; a cave or grotto; A gravesite; where... |
| 2 | Old French | spelonque | — |
| 3 | Italian | spelonca | cave, cavern; hovel |
| 4 | Latin | spēlunca | — |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | σπῆλυγξ | cave |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | σπέος | cave, cavern, grotto |
Words derived from “spelunk”