Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “vernix caseosa” come from?

vernix caseosa (English) comes from Latin vernix, from Latin veronix, from Byzantine Greek βερονίκη, from Ancient Greek βερονίκιον, from Ancient Greek Βερενίκη, from Ancient Macedonian Βερενῑ́κη, from Ancient Greek φέρω, from Proto-Hellenic pʰérō — shiny, light brown.

vernix caseosa (English): the waxy or "cheesy" white substance found...

Definitions

  1. the waxy or "cheesy" white substance found...

Ancestry of “vernix caseosa”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinvernixvarnish; resin
2Latinveronix—
3Byzantine Greekβερονίκηresin amber
4Ancient Greekβερονίκιονsoda
5Ancient GreekΒερενίκηa city in Lybia; bringer of victory
6Ancient MacedonianΒερενῑ́κη—
7Ancient GreekφέρωI bring, bear, carry
8Proto-Hellenicpʰérōto bear
9Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰéretito be carrying
10Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰēr-shiny, light brown
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰēr- →