hyena

Where does the word "hyena" come from? It comes from Greek hys, passing through Greek and Latin before entering English (1300s).

Hyena’s story begins in Greek: hys meant “pig.” Pig, the root behind the animal's name. Within Greek, it grew into hyaina by ancient. The scavenging animal, likened to a pig for its bristled back. From there it passed into Latin as hyaena by ancient. Carried into Latin for the scavenging animal. It reached English by 1300s as hyena. Settled as the English word for the scavenging animal. Today, hyena means a scavenging, doglike mammal native to Africa and Asia, known for its call.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient hys "pig", pig, the root behind the animal's name.
2. Stage 2 · Greek · ancient hyaina "hyena", the scavenging animal, likened to a pig for its bristled back.
3. Stage 3 · Latin · ancient hyaena "hyena", carried into Latin for the scavenging animal.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s hyena "a scavenging doglike mammal", settled as the English word for the scavenging animal.