Where does “varicose” come from?
Varicose derives from Latin varix, meaning an enlarged vein, from Proto-Indo-European wers-, itself from wer-, a root meaning to turn or twist.
varicose (English): abnormally swollen, dilated or knotty
Definitions
- abnormally swollen, dilated or knotty
Ancestry of “varicose”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | varix | A varicose, i.e. swollen and knotted, vein; In... |
| 2 | Middle English | varix | — |
| 3 | Latin | varix | a varicose vein |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | wers- | to wipe; peak, height |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | wer- | to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel |
Words derived from “varicose”