Etymology Explorer › Latin

Where does “cactus” come from?

cactus (Latin) comes from Ancient Greek κάκτος — the cardoon, "Cynara cardunculus"; the artichoke...

cactus (Latin): the cardoon, "Cynara cardunculus"

Definitions

  1. the cardoon, "Cynara cardunculus"

Ancestry of “cactus”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekκάκτοςthe cardoon, "Cynara cardunculus"; the artichoke...

Words derived from “cactus”

  • cactus
  • cacti
  • cactuslike
  • cactusy
  • cactused
  • noncactus
  • cacti
  • cacto
  • cactus
  • cactáceo
  • cato
  • cactus
  • Cactus
  • Cactoideae
  • Cactaceae
  • kaktus
  • páskakaktus
  • cactws
Every word from Ancient Greek κάκτος →