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galactic

relating to a galaxy, especially the Milky Way

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Where does the word "galactic" come from? It comes from Greek galaxias, and was adopted directly into English (1848).

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Where does the word "galactic" come from? It comes from Greek galaxias, and was adopted directly into English (1848).

Galactic’s story begins in Greek: galaxias meant “milky.” Milky, relating to the Milky Way. It reached English by 1848 as galactic. Settled as the astronomical word for anything relating to a galaxy. Today, galactic means relating to a galaxy, especially the Milky Way.

  1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient galaxias "milky", milky, relating to the Milky Way.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1848 galactic "relating to a galaxy", settled as the astronomical word for anything relating to a galaxy.

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