English
neuron
Neuron comes from Ancient Greek νεῦρον ‘nerve’, from Proto-Indo-European *snḗh₁wr̥ ‘band, sinew’, and ultimately from *(s)neh₁- ‘to spin (thread), to sew’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)neh₁-‘to spin (thread), to sew’root as named
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*snḗh₁wr̥‘band, sinew’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEνεῦρονneûron‘nerve’
- Englishearliest quotation 2013neuron
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)neh₁-‘to spin (thread), to sew’root as named
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*snḗh₁wr̥‘band, sinew’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEνεῦρονneûron‘nerve’
- Englishearliest quotation 2013neuron
Earliest quotation: 2013, The machine of a new soul: “The yawning gap in neuroscientists’ understanding of their topic…”
Equivalent to neuro- + -on
Proto-Indo-European *(s)neh₁- ‘to spin (thread), to sew’
Proto-Indo-European *snéh₁wr̥ ‘sinew, tendon’
Ancient Greek νεῦρον ‘sinew, tendon, cord’
English neuro-
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *(s)neh₁- ‘to spin (thread), to sew’
nervous, needle, nous, adder, nematode, sinew, nematic, 8 more
through Proto-Indo-European *snḗh₁wr̥ ‘band, sinew’
through Ancient Greek νεῦρον ‘nerve’
Today it means
noun A cell of the nervous system, which conducts nerve impulses; consisting of an axon and several dendrites. Neurons are connected by synapses.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *(s)neh₁- / neuron