English
lichenism
From lichen + -ism.
Formed from lichen + -ism
Proto-Indo-European *leyǵʰ- ‘to lick’
…
Proto-Hellenic *léikʰō
Ancient Greek λείχω ‘to lick’
Ancient Greek λειχήν ‘Lichen-like disease affecting the skin of…’
Latin līchēn ‘a cryptogamic species of vegetation growing…’
English lichen
Today it means
noun The symbiotic relationship that gives rise to a lichen.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / lichenism