English
chela
Chela comes from Latin chele ‘claw-shaped mechanism, trigger’, and goes back to Ancient Greek χηλή.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEχηλήkhēlḗ‘crab's claw’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEchele‘claw-shaped mechanism, trigger’
- Englishearliest quotation 1646chela
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEχηλήkhēlḗ‘crab's claw’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEchele‘claw-shaped mechanism, trigger’
- Englishearliest quotation 1646chela
Earliest quotation: 1646, Thomas Browne, London: […] T[homas] H[arper] for Edward Dod: “It happeneth often, I confess, that a lobster hath…”
Every English word from Ancient Greek χηλή
Another origin of chela
- Prakritmodernचेल्लय
- Hindic. 1500–presentचेला‘disciple, pupil, student’
- Englishtodaychela
Today it means
noun A pincer-like claw of a crustacean or arachnid.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek χηλή / chela