Where does “lichen” come from?
lichen (Latin) comes from Ancient Greek λειχήν, from Ancient Greek λείχω, from Proto-Indo-European leyǵʰ- — to lick.
Ancestry of “lichen”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Ancient Greek | λειχήν | Liverwort; Lichen-like disease affecting the skin... |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | λείχω | to lick up |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | leyǵʰ- | to lick |