prostate

Where does the word "prostate" come from? It comes from Greek prostates, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).

Prostate’s story begins in Greek: prostates meant “one who stands before, a guardian.” Literally one who stands before, describing the gland's position before the bladder. It reached English by 1600s as prostate. Settled as the medical word for the male reproductive gland. Today, prostate means a gland in men that produces fluid forming part of semen.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient prostates "one who stands before, a guardian", literally one who stands before, describing the gland's position before the bladder.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1600s prostate "a male reproductive gland below the bladder", settled as the medical word for the male reproductive gland.