Where does “swamp orchid” come from?
swamp orchid (English) comes from English orchid, from New Latin Orchideae, from Latin orchis, from Ancient Greek ὄρχις, from Proto-Indo-European h₃erǵʰi- — testicle.
swamp orchid (English): Any orchid of the genus Phaius, commonly found in swamps
Definitions
- Any orchid of the genus Phaius, commonly found in swamps
Ancestry of “swamp orchid”, step by step
swamp orchid traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English orchid
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | orchid | A plant of the orchid family (Orchidaceae), bearing unusually-shaped flowers of beautiful colours |
| 2 | New Latin | Orchideae | — |
| 3 | Latin | orchis | orchid; kind of olive |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ὄρχις | testicle; ovary; orchid |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃erǵʰi- | testicle |
via English swamp
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | swamp | A piece of wet, spongy land; low ground saturated... |
| 2 | Middle English | swam | swamp, muddy pool, bog, marsh", also "fungus,... |
| 3 | Old English | swamm | mushroom, fungus; sponge; first/third-person... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | *swammaz | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | swombh- | sponge, tree-fungus, swamp |