English
carcinization
Carcinization comes from Ancient Greek καρκῐ́νος ‘crab’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκαρκῐ́νοςkarkĭ́nos‘crab’
- Englishearliest quotation 1916carcinization
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκαρκῐ́νοςkarkĭ́nos‘crab’
- Englishearliest quotation 1916carcinization
Earliest quotation: 1916, Lancelot Alexander Borradaile, Terra Nova: “[page 121] Porcellanopagurus is a quite independent case of…”
The story
From Ancient Greek καρκῐ́νος (karkĭ́nos, “crab”) + English -ization (suffix forming nouns denoting the act, process, or result of doing or making something), coined by British zoologist Lancelot Alexander Borradaile (1872–1945) in a 1916 report: see the quotation.
Every English word from Ancient Greek καρκῐ́νος
Today it means
noun The convergent evolution of decapod crustaceans from forms dissimilar to true crabs into similar forms.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek καρκῐ́νος / carcinization