orchid

Where does the word "orchid" come from? It comes from Greek orkhis, and was adopted directly into English (1845).

Orchid’s story begins in Greek: orkhis meant “a testicle.” Literally a testicle, from the shape of the plant's paired root tubers. It reached English by 1845 as orchid. Coined by botanists for the distinctive flowering plant family. Today, orchid means a flowering plant known for its complex, often colorful blooms.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient orkhis "a testicle", literally a testicle, from the shape of the plant's paired root tubers.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1845 orchid "a distinctive flowering plant with complex blooms", coined by botanists for the distinctive flowering plant family.