English
alectorian
Alectorian comes from Ancient Greek ἀλέκτωρ ‘cock’, from ᾰ̓λέξω ‘to ward off’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂lek- ‘to defend, to protect’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂lek-‘to defend, to protect’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*aléksō‘to protect’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEᾰ̓λέξω‘to ward off’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀλέκτωρaléktōr‘cock’
- Englishearliest quotation 1808alectorian
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂lek-‘to defend, to protect’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*aléksō‘to protect’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEᾰ̓λέξω‘to ward off’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀλέκτωρaléktōr‘cock’
- Englishearliest quotation 1808alectorian
Earliest quotation: 1808, Saint Thomas More, Thomas Frognall Dibdin: “Stones of baser sort, and yet of singular vertue,…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂lek- ‘to defend, to protect’
Today it means
noun —
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂lek- / alectorian