Etymology Explorer › Latin

Where does “termites” come from?

termites (Latin) comes from Latin tarmes, from Proto-Indo-European terh₁- — to rub, turn; to drill, pierce.

termites (Latin): nominative plural of termes; accusative plural of...

Definitions

  1. nominative plural of termes; accusative plural of...

Ancestry of “termites”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latintarmesa worm that eats wood; a woodworm
2Proto-Indo-Europeanterh₁-to rub, turn; to drill, pierce

Words derived from “termites”

  • termite
  • termitary
  • termiticide
  • termitarium
  • termitophile
  • termiticidal
  • termitophagy
  • termite
  • termites
  • autotermiitti
  • termiittipesä
  • termiitti
  • termiittisammakko
  • termiittikeko
  • termiet
  • termit
Every word from Proto-Indo-European terh₁- →