Where does “spelunking” come from?
spelunking (English) comes from English spelunk, 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.
spelunking (English): The practice or hobby of exploring underground...
Definitions
- The practice or hobby of exploring underground...
Ancestry of “spelunking”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | spelunk | A cave, cavern or grotto; To explore caves; To... |
| 2 | Middle English | spelunke | A spelunk; a cave or grotto; A gravesite; where... |
| 3 | Old French | spelonque | — |
| 4 | Italian | spelonca | cave, cavern; hovel |
| 5 | Latin | spēlunca | cave; cavern; chasm |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | σπῆλυγξ | cave |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | σπέος | cave, cavern, grotto |