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

lepidopterus traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Ancient Greek πτερόν

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

via Ancient Greek λεπίς

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekλεπίςscale, flake, shell, husk; epithelial debris;...
2Ancient Greekλέπωpeel, strip off the rind or husk

Words derived from “lepidopterus”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European péth₂r̥ →Every word from Ancient Greek πτερόν →