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Where does the word "testis" come from? It comes from Latin testis, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "testis" come from? It comes from Latin testis, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).
Testis’s story begins in Latin: testis meant “a witness.” Literally a witness, applied to the male reproductive gland as a witness to virility. It reached English by 1600s as testis. Latin 'witness', perhaps as a witness to virility. Today, testis means the male reproductive gland that produces sperm.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient testis "a witness", literally a witness, applied to the male reproductive gland as a witness to virility.
- Stage 2 · English · 1600s testis "the male reproductive gland", Latin 'witness', perhaps as a witness to virility.