Where does “plectrum” come from?
plectrum (Latin) comes from Ancient Greek πλῆκτρον, from Ancient Greek πλήσσω, from Proto-Hellenic plā́ťťō, from Proto-Indo-European pl(e)h₂kyeti, from Proto-Indo-European pel- — to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold.
Ancestry of “plectrum”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Ancient Greek | πλῆκτρον | plectrum; spur |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | πλήσσω | to strike, smite; I am stricken, defeated |
| 3 | Proto-Hellenic | plā́ťťō | — |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | pl(e)h₂kyeti | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | pel- | to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold |