Where does “mercan” come from?
mercan (Turkish) comes from Ottoman Turkish مرجان, from Old Anatolian Turkish مرجان, from Arabic مَرْجَان, from Classical Syriac ܡܪܰܓܳܢ, from Classical Syriac ܡܰܪܓܳܢܺܝܬܳܐ, from Ancient Greek μαργαρίτης, from Proto-Iranian *mŕ̥ga-ahri-ita-.
mercan (Turkish): coral, any of many species of marine invertebrates in the class Anthozoa
Definitions
- coral, any of many species of marine invertebrates in the class Anthozoa
Ancestry of “mercan”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ottoman Turkish | مرجان | coral |
| 2 | Old Anatolian Turkish | مرجان | — |
| 3 | Arabic | مَرْجَان | — |
| 4 | Classical Syriac | ܡܪܰܓܳܢ | pearl-like |
| 5 | Classical Syriac | ܡܰܪܓܳܢܺܝܬܳܐ | pearl |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | μαργαρίτης | pearl; a type of Egyptian plant |
| 7 | Proto-Iranian | *mŕ̥ga-ahri-ita- | — |