English
catapasm
Catapasm comes from Ancient Greek κατάπασμα ‘powder’, and goes back to πάσσω ‘sprinkle’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπάσσωpássō‘sprinkle’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEκατάπασμαkatápasma‘powder’
- Englishtodaycatapasm
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπάσσωpássō‘sprinkle’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEκατάπασμαkatápasma‘powder’
- Englishtodaycatapasm
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *(s)kuh₁t-yé-ti
concussion, cashier, pastel, quash, repercussion, zouk, fracas, casco, casse, 27 more
through Ancient Greek πάσσω ‘sprinkle’
Today it means
noun A medicinal powder used by the ancients to sprinkle on ulcers, to absorb perspiration, etc.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek πάσσω / catapasm