English
germ-free
From germ + -free.
Formed from germ + -free
Proto-Indo-European *ǵenh₁- ‘to produce’
Proto-Indo-European *ǵénh₁mn̥ ‘offspring”, “seed’
Proto-Italic *genamen
Latin germen ‘bud, seed, embryo’
Middle French germe ‘seed’
English germ
Today it means
adj Without any (especially harmful) microorganisms; aseptic.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / germ-free