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Where does the word "latex" come from? It comes from Latin latex, and was adopted directly into English (1660s).
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Where does the word "latex" come from? It comes from Latin latex, and was adopted directly into English (1660s).
Latex’s story begins in Latin: latex meant “liquid, fluid.” Possibly from Greek 'latax', dregs. It reached English by 1660s as latex. Rubber tree sap was named 'latex' in the 1830s. Today, latex means milky sap of rubber trees; a synthetic rubber.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient latex "liquid, fluid", possibly from Greek 'latax', dregs.
- Stage 2 · English · 1660s latex "body fluid", rubber tree sap was named 'latex' in the 1830s.