electron

Where does the word "electron" come from? It comes from Greek elektron, and was adopted directly into English (1891).

Electron’s story begins in Greek: elektron meant “amber.” Amber, which produces static electricity when rubbed. It reached English by 1891 as electron. Coined by physicist George Stoney for the fundamental unit of electric charge. Today, electron means a stable subatomic particle with a negative electric charge.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient elektron "amber", amber, which produces static electricity when rubbed.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1891 electron "a negatively charged subatomic particle", coined by physicist George Stoney for the fundamental unit of electric charge.