Etymograph

English

cerebellum

Cerebellum comes from Latin cerebellum ‘a little brain’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *ḱerh₂-.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱerh₂-reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱerh₂sromreconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*kerazrom‘brain’reconstructed
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcerebrum‘brain’
  5. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcerebellum‘a little brain’
  6. Englishearliest quotation 2019cerebellum

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱerh₂-reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱerh₂sromreconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*kerazrom‘brain’reconstructed
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcerebrum‘brain’
  5. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcerebellum‘a little brain’
  6. Englishearliest quotation 2019cerebellum

Earliest quotation: 2019, Bill Bryson, The Body: A Guide for Occupants: “Although the cerebellum occupies just 10 per cent of…”

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *ḱerh₂-

horn, hart, cheer, grail, crater, migraine, corny, cornea, carotid, cairn, cornet, procrastinate, cranium, keratin, rother, 54 more

Today it means

noun Part of the hindbrain in vertebrates. In humans it lies between the brainstem and the back of the cerebrum and is formed of two lateral lobes and a median lobe. It plays an important role in sensory perception, motor output, balance and posture.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *ḱerh₂- / cerebellum

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