English
meniscus
Meniscus comes from Ancient Greek μηνίσκος ‘crescent’, and goes back to μήνη ‘moon’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEμήνηmḗnē‘moon’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEμηνίσκοςmēnískos‘crescent’
- Englishearliest quotation 1959meniscus
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEμήνηmḗnē‘moon’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEμηνίσκοςmēnískos‘crescent’
- Englishearliest quotation 1959meniscus
Earliest quotation: 1959, Anthony Burgess, Beds in the East (The Malayan Trilogy): “And from Crabbe's own forehead sweat dripped or gathered…”
Every English word from Ancient Greek μήνη
Today it means
noun A crescent moon, or an object shaped like it.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek μήνη / meniscus