English
pyxidium
Pyxidium comes from Ancient Greek πῠξῐ́ς ‘box’, and goes back to πῠ́ξος ‘boxwood’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπῠ́ξος‘boxwood’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπῠξῐ́ςpŭxĭ́s‘box’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπυξίδιονpuxídiondiminutive of πῠξῐ́ς
- Englishearliest quotation 1836pyxidium
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπῠ́ξος‘boxwood’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπῠξῐ́ςpŭxĭ́s‘box’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπυξίδιονpuxídiondiminutive of πῠξῐ́ς
- Englishearliest quotation 1836pyxidium
Earliest quotation: 1836, Asa Gray, Elements of Botany: “A fruit of this kind is sometimes termed a…”
Linked words
through Ancient Greek πῠ́ξος ‘boxwood’
Today it means
noun A seed capsule in the form of a box, the seeds being released when the top splits off.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek πῠ́ξος / pyxidium