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Nucleus

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the central core of an atom or cell

Where does the word "nucleus" come from? It comes from Latin nucleus, adopted directly into English (1700s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
nucleus
Latin · ancient
"kernel"
a diminutive of 'nux', nut
2
Stage 2 of 2
nucleus
English · 1700s
"kernel"
atomic 'nucleus' was named by Rutherford in 1912
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Read the full story

Nucleus’s story begins in Latin: nucleus meant “kernel.” A diminutive of 'nux', nut. It reached English by 1700s as nucleus. Atomic 'nucleus' was named by Rutherford in 1912. Today, nucleus means the central core of an atom or cell.