Where does “tricuspid” come from?
I need to work through this carefully, as the chain provided seems problematic. The chain given is: - English cuspid | Latin cuspis | Latin tres | English three | Proto-Indo-European tréyes | Proto-Indo-European tréyes | Proto-West Germanic þrīʀ | Proto-Germanic þrīz This chain doesn't make logical sense. It appears to mix: 1. A path from "cuspid" (Latin cuspis = point/sharp) 2. Then jumps to "tres/three" (meaning three) 3. Then continues with the "three" etymology The word "tricuspid" should derive from: - Latin "tri-" (three) + "cuspid-" (from cuspis, point) So the actual chain should be something like: English tricuspid ← Latin tricuspis ← Latin tri-
tricuspid (English): Having three cusps, e.g. a molar tooth;...
Definitions
- Having three cusps, e.g. a molar tooth;...
Ancestry of “tricuspid”, step by step
tricuspid traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Italian tricuspide
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italian | tricuspide | tricuspid |
| 2 | Italian | cuspide | cusp; spire |
| 3 | Latin | cuspis | point, tip; spit; sting |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | spey- | sharp point, stick |
via English cuspid
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | cuspid | A tooth with a single cusp; a canine |