Etymology Explorer › Latin

Where does “lepidopterus” come from?

lepidopterus (Latin) comes from Ancient Greek πτερόν, from Proto-Indo-European péth₂r̥, from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- — to spread out; to fly.

lepidopterus (Latin): scaly-winged; Lepidoptera—butterflies and moths

Definitions

  1. scaly-winged; Lepidoptera—butterflies and moths

Ancestry of “lepidopterus”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekπτερόνfeather; wing; Any winged creature
2Proto-Indo-Europeanpéth₂r̥wing; feather
3Proto-Indo-Europeanpeth₂-to spread out; to fly

Words derived from “lepidopterus”

  • lepidoptera
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- →