English
magnetotaxis
From magneto- + taxis; coined in 1975 by R.
Proto-Indo-European *teh₂g- ‘to order, to establish, to rule’
Proto-Hellenic *tat͏̌t͏̌ō
Ancient Greek τᾰ́σσω ‘I arrange”, “I order’
Ancient Greek τάξις ‘arrangement, order’
English taxis
The story
From magneto- + taxis; coined in 1975 by R.
Today it means
noun The supposed ability to sense a magnetic field and coordinate movement in response, later discovered to be natural magnetism: such creatures orient themselves magnetically even after death
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / magnetotaxis