Where does “bacterium” come from?

bacterium (Latin) comes from Ancient Greek βακτήριον, from Ancient Greek βακτηρία, from Proto-Indo-European baḱ- — club, pointed stick, peg; pointed stick, peg.

bacterium (Latin): cane, walking-stick; staff (of a shepherd)

Definitions

  1. cane, walking-stick; staff (of a shepherd)

Ancestry of “bacterium”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient GreekβακτήριονSynonym of βακτηρία
2Ancient Greekβακτηρίαrod, staff, cane; baton
3Proto-Indo-Europeanbaḱ-club, pointed stick, peg; pointed stick, peg

Words derived from “bacterium

Every word from Proto-Indo-European baḱ-