International Scientific Vocabulary - Words and Word Roots That Have Different Meanings From Those in The Original Languages

Words and Word Roots That Have Different Meanings From Those in The Original Languages

This is a list of scientific words and word roots which have different meanings from in the original languages.

word or root scientific meaning original language original word original meaning notes
andro-, -ander stamen Greek ἀνδρ-, ἀνηρ man in flowers of flowering plants
gynaec-, -gyne carpel Greek γυναικ-, γυνη woman
capno- carbon dioxide Greek καπνός smoke
electro- electricity Greek ἤλεκτρον amber via static electricity from rubbing amber
-itis inflammation Greek -ῖτις pertaining to
thorax chest (anatomy) Greek θώραξ breastplate
toxo- poison Greek τόξον bow (weapon) via "poisoned arrow". It means "bow" in Toxodon
macro- big Greek μακρός long
In names of biological taxa
-ceras ammonite Greek κέρας horn via resemblance to a ram's horn
-crinus crinoid Greek κρίνος lily extracted from name "crinoid"
grapto- graptolite Greek γραπτός writing via resemblance of fossil
-gyrinus labyrinthodont Greek γυρῖνος tadpole
-lestes predator Greek λῃστής robber
-mimus ornithomimid Greek μῖμος mime extracted from name Ornithomimus = "bird mimic"
-mys rodent Greek μῦς mouse including in Phoberomys
-saurus reptile, dinosaur Greek σαῦρος lizard
-stega, -stege stegocephalian Greek στέγη roof via their cranium roofs as fossils
-suchus,
-champsus		 crocodilian Ancient
Egyptian		 σοῦχος,
χαμψαι (pl.)		 as quoted by ancient Greek authors
as Egyptian words for "crocodile"
therium usually mammal Greek θηρίον beast, animal
Names of bones
femur thighbone Latin femur thigh Classical Latin genitive often "feminis"
fibula (a leg bone) Latin fibula brooch tibia & fibula looked like a brooch and its pin
radius (an arm bone) Latin radius spoke
tibia shinbone Latin tibia flute via animal tibias modified into flutes
ulna (an arm bone) Latin ulna elbow, cubit measure

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