Where does “termites” come from?

termites (Late Latin) comes from Latin tarmes, from Proto-Indo-European terh₁- — to rub, turn; to drill, pierce.

termites (Late Latin): nominative plural of termes; accusative plural of...

Definitions

  1. nominative plural of termes; accusative plural of...

Ancestry of “termites”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latintarmesa worm that eats wood; a woodworm
2Proto-Indo-Europeanterh₁-to rub, turn; to drill, pierce
Every word from Proto-Indo-European terh₁-
termites — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer