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Where does the word "capillary" come from? It comes from Latin capillaris, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).
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Where does the word "capillary" come from? It comes from Latin capillaris, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).
Capillary’s story begins in Latin: capillaris meant “hair-like.” Relating to hair, from capillus (hair), describing the vessel's hair-like thinness. It reached English by 1600s as capillary. Settled as the medical word for the smallest blood vessels. Today, capillary means one of the smallest blood vessels, connecting arteries to veins.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient capillaris "hair-like", relating to hair, from capillus (hair), describing the vessel's hair-like thinness.
- Stage 2 · English · 1600s capillary "one of the smallest blood vessels", settled as the medical word for the smallest blood vessels.