English
Pap smear
From Papanikolaou + smear.
A compound of Papanikolaou + smear
Greek Παπανικολάου
English Papanikolaou
Proto-Indo-European *smérus ‘grease, fat’
…
Proto-Germanic *smirwijaną ‘to smear, anoint’
Proto-West Germanic *smirwijan ‘to smear’
Old English smerian ‘to anoint or rub with grease, oil, etc’
Middle English smeren
English smear
The story
Named after the Greek-American physician Georgios Papanikolaou.
Today it means
noun Synonym of Pap test.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Pap smear