English
aculeous
Aculeous comes from Latin aculeus ‘needle’, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱus ‘pointed’, and ultimately from *h₂eḱ- ‘sharp’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱ-‘sharp’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱus‘pointed’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEacus‘needle’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEaculeus‘needle’
- Englishearliest quotation 1658aculeous
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱ-‘sharp’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱus‘pointed’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEacus‘needle’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEaculeus‘needle’
- Englishearliest quotation 1658aculeous
Earliest quotation: 1658, Sir Thomas Browne, The Garden of Cyrus: “And such an order is observed in the aculeous…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- ‘sharp’
hear, edge, egg, ear, acid, hammer, eager, axe, oxide, vinegar, mediocre, acne, mediocrity, paragon, acetate, hark, acacia, exacerbate, acme, acumen, acuity, acyl, rosacea, acrimony, acrid, exacerbation, acerbic, roselle, 71 more
through Latin acus ‘needle’
Today it means
adj Resembling or pertaining to a needle.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- / aculeous