Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “spirochete” come from?

spirochete (English) comes from Translingual Spirochaeta, from Ancient Greek χαίτη, from Proto-Indo-European gʰeh₂it- — curly hair.

spirochete (English): Any of several coiled bacteria of the order...

Definitions

  1. Any of several coiled bacteria of the order...

Ancestry of “spirochete”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1TranslingualSpirochaeta—
2Ancient Greekχαίτηloose, flowing hair; used especially of back...
3Proto-Indo-Europeangʰeh₂it-curly hair

Words derived from “spirochete”

  • spirochetal
  • spirochetosis
  • spirochetemia
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰeh₂it- →