English
cancellous
Cancellous comes from Latin cancellus ‘lattice’, from cancer ‘crab’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- ‘to turn, bend’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)ker-‘to turn, bend’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*kr-kr-‘circular’reconstructedreduplication of *(s)ker-
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*karkros‘enclosure’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*kankros‘enclosure, fence’reconstructeddissimilation of *karkros
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcancer‘crab’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcancellus‘lattice’
- Englishtodaycancellous
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)ker-‘to turn, bend’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*kr-kr-‘circular’reconstructedreduplication of *(s)ker-
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*karkros‘enclosure’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*kankros‘enclosure, fence’reconstructeddissimilation of *karkros
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcancer‘crab’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcancellus‘lattice’
- Englishtodaycancellous
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- ‘to turn, bend’
short, across, share, cross, screen, card, score, shirt, circle, circuit, crucial, curve, circulation, skirt, scare, circus, curb, scrutiny, shrine, carnival, crest, scar, corona, shear, circa, scorpion, shred, raffle, circulate, carnage, scorn, shrewd, crux, incarceration, carcinoma, shard, corolla, cirque, circulatory, crepe, 115 more
through Latin cancer ‘crab’
cancerous, canker, chancellery, 6 more
through Latin cancellus ‘lattice’
Today it means
adj Having low density and strength but high surface area, of the kind that fills the inner cavity of long bones.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- / cancellous