Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “varicella” come from?

Varicella comes from New Latin varicella, a diminutive of Latin variola, from Latin varius meaning "varied" or "spotted."

varicella (English): chickenpox; Any of various other eruptive...

Definitions

  1. chickenpox; Any of various other eruptive...

Ancestry of “varicella”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1New Latinvaricella—
2Latinvariolaan infectious disease causing pustules; pox
3Latinvariusdiverse, different, various, variegated
4Latinvārus—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂wer-to lift up; to moisten; to flow; to raise, hang
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwēr-true
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel

Words derived from “varicella”

  • varicelliform
  • varicelloid
  • varicellar
  • Varicellovirus
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wer- →