Etymograph

English

Triassic

Triassic comes from German Trias ‘trinity, triad’, and goes back to Ancient Greek τριάς.

  1. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτριάςtriás‘triad’
  2. Germanc. 1650–presentTrias‘trinity, triad’
  3. English1500–presentsame form‘three-layered geologic strata between the Permian and Jurassic’
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1990Triassic

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτριάςtriás‘triad’
  2. Germanc. 1650–presentTrias‘trinity, triad’
  3. English1500–presentsame form‘three-layered geologic strata between the Permian and Jurassic’
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1990Triassic

Earliest quotation: 1990, Michael Crichton, Jurassic Park: “Well,” Ellie said. “We know animals have survived. Crocodiles…”

Formed from -ic

The story

Coined in 1841 by geologist Friedrich August von Alberti (1795–1878).

Every English word from Ancient Greek τριάς

Today it means

adj Of or from the geologic strata above the Permian and below the Jurassic; of or belonging to the period 250 to 200 million years ago when these strata were laid down.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Ancient Greek τριάς / Triassic

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