English
acinus
Acinus comes from Latin acinus ‘grape, grape-stone’.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEacinus‘grape, grape-stone’
- Englishearliest quotation 1828same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEacinus‘grape, grape-stone’
- Englishearliest quotation 1828same form
Earliest quotation: 1828, Jones Quain: “Their smallest lobules were called acini, a term which…”
The story
Unadapted borrowing from Latin acinus (‘grape, grape-stone’); the histopathologic sense comes figuratively from the fancied resemblance (on microscopy) of acinic cells (acinar cells) to bunches of drupelets, berries, or grapes.
Every English word from Latin acinus
Today it means
noun One of the small grains or drupelets which make up some kinds of fruit, as the blackberry, raspberry, etc.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin acinus / acinus