![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_66cc34c2ce7a5.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddaf0bc89f0.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddaf05d30e8.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddaf1236846.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddaf1621596.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddaf155c85a.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddafefbeee3.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddaf1275ee8.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddaff06de76.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddaf0a99189.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddaf0fee6f2.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddaf059755e.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddafefadc30.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddcaa4d9b12.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddaf0922d7c.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddaf10542ea.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddafef32e57.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddaefee09ee.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddaf0b066db.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddaf0bde7fd.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddaf0dcdd8e.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddaf118cb5f.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddaefe6fdf8.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddaf0202ad7.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddaefef20ba.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddaf0634868.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddaf1014f5e.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddaf066321b.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddaf0564b6b.jpg)
![Words you never knew were inspired by animals](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_65ddaefd74e4d.jpg)
See Also
See Again
Words you never knew were inspired by animals
- Languages are evolving all the time. Some of the additions to the vocabulary are from situations, emotions, nature, and even dreams. Here are some words that were inspired by the animal kingdom.
© Shutterstock
0 / 30 Fotos
Vixen
- "Vixen" is the feminine form of fox.
© Shutterstock
1 / 30 Fotos
Canopy
- In ancient Greece, a kanopeion, from the Greek word for mosquito, konops, was a chair or couch fitted with a mosquito net over it. As time went on, the name came to apply only to the net rather than the chair.
© Shutterstock
2 / 30 Fotos
Butcher
- "Butcher" goes back to the Anglo-Norman bocher to the Old French bochier, which was formed off the word boc, meaning "goat."
© Shutterstock
3 / 30 Fotos
Cavalier
- The word "cavalier" comes from the Spanish cavallero, meaning "horse-rider," which in turn comes from cavallo, meaning "horse." Another related word is "chivalrous."
© Shutterstock
4 / 30 Fotos
Pedigree
- "Pedigree" comes from the Anglo-Norman pé de grue, meaning "foot of the crane." The word refers to the lines on genealogical charts, which look like crane footprints.
© Shutterstock
5 / 30 Fotos
Cynic
- "Cynic" comes from the Greek cynikos, meaning "dog-like" or "churlish."
© Shutterstock
6 / 30 Fotos
Hobby
- "Hobby" was an old term that people in England used to give cart-horses. It became a general word for a nice little pony, and then for a toy horse.
© Shutterstock
7 / 30 Fotos
Harpoon
- "Harpoon" comes from the French harpon, a cramp iron for holding stones together, which came from harpe, the word for a dog's claw.
© Shutterstock
8 / 30 Fotos
Arctic
- The Arctic takes its name from the Greek word for bear, arktos. However, the bear in question isn't a polar bear but the Great Bear, or Ursa Major, a constellation in the northern sky.
© Shutterstock
9 / 30 Fotos
Easel
- "Easel" is another donkey word, derived from the Dutch word for donkey, ezel.
© Shutterstock
10 / 30 Fotos
Formication
- "Formication" is the medical name for a creeping, tingling sensation felt on the skin, which takes its name from the Latin word for "ant," formica.
© Shutterstock
11 / 30 Fotos
Bawl
- The word "bawl" comes from the sound that a dog makes. In Latin, the word originated from the verb baulare, "to bark like a dog."
© Shutterstock
12 / 30 Fotos
Dandelion
- "Dandelion" comes from the French dent-de-lion, meaning "lion's tooth," a reference to the plant's jagged or tooth-like leaves.
© Shutterstock
13 / 30 Fotos
Pavilion
- "Pavilion" comes from the Latin word for butterfly, papilio. Pavilions were originally large tents, with durable fabric that unfurled like butterfly wings.
© Shutterstock
14 / 30 Fotos
Caprice
- "Caprice" is another goat-related word, which is believed to go back to the Italian capro, meaning goat, known for their whimsical skipping about.
© Shutterstock
15 / 30 Fotos
Tyke
- Used today to describe a small, mischievous child, "tyke" comes from Old Norse tík, a word for a female dog.
© Shutterstock
16 / 30 Fotos
Sturdy
- The word is believed to derive from the Latin turdus, the dull brown and speckled songbirds we now call thrushes.
© Shutterstock
17 / 30 Fotos
Sniper
- Dating back to the early 19th century, a "sniper" was originally someone who literally shot snipes.
© Shutterstock
18 / 30 Fotos
Aviation
- Aviation comes from the Latin word for bird, avis. It was coined in the 19th century, when humans were trying to figure out how to do that thing that birds do so well!
© Shutterstock
19 / 30 Fotos
Vaccine
- "Vaccine" comes from vacca, the Latin word for cow. The first vaccines were made from cowpox lesions, known as variola vaccinae, which were found to produce immunity from smallpox.
© Shutterstock
20 / 30 Fotos
Hackneyed
- "Hackneyed" comes from the Old French haquenée, a gentle sort of horse considered especially suitable for ladies to ride.
© Shutterstock
21 / 30 Fotos
Tragedy
- "Tragedy" derives from the Greek word tragoedia, literally meaning "goat song." One theory claims it comes from actors in ancient Greece dressing up as legendary animals (like goat-legged satyrs) in performances of dramas and tragedies.
© Shutterstock
22 / 30 Fotos
Harum-Scarum
- Meaning "reckless" or "disorganized," some linguists argue that the term comes from an old dialect corruption of "hare" and "scare," probably in reference to a hunter's dogs scaring rabbits and hares.
© Shutterstock
23 / 30 Fotos
Henchman
- The "hench" in henchman comes from hengest, an Old English word for a horse. The term was originally used to describe a knight or servant who would accompany a nobleman on horseback.
© Shutterstock
24 / 30 Fotos
Exocet
- An exocet is a type of marine missile developed by the French Navy in the late '60s. Its name is the French word for a flying fish.
© Shutterstock
25 / 30 Fotos
Burrito
- "Burrito" comes from the Spanish term for little burro, or little donkey.
© Shutterstock
26 / 30 Fotos
Bellwether
- Used today to describe a leader or trendsetter, in the Middle Ages a "bellwether" was originally the lead animal in a flock of sheep.
© Shutterstock
27 / 30 Fotos
Dauphin
- The title once held by the eldest son of the king of France, "dauphin" is actually the French word for dolphin.
© Shutterstock
28 / 30 Fotos
Treacle
- "Treacle" was employed in the 14th century as a word for a medicine or antidote used to treat snakebites. In this context, it comes from therion, an ancient Greek word for wild animals. Sources: (Mental Floss) (Dictionary.com) See also: https://www.starsinsider.com/lifestyle/536121/how-best-to-feed-backyard-birds
© Shutterstock
29 / 30 Fotos
Words you never knew were inspired by animals
- Languages are evolving all the time. Some of the additions to the vocabulary are from situations, emotions, nature, and even dreams. Here are some words that were inspired by the animal kingdom.
© Shutterstock
0 / 30 Fotos
Vixen
- "Vixen" is the feminine form of fox.
© Shutterstock
1 / 30 Fotos
Canopy
- In ancient Greece, a kanopeion, from the Greek word for mosquito, konops, was a chair or couch fitted with a mosquito net over it. As time went on, the name came to apply only to the net rather than the chair.
© Shutterstock
2 / 30 Fotos
Butcher
- "Butcher" goes back to the Anglo-Norman bocher to the Old French bochier, which was formed off the word boc, meaning "goat."
© Shutterstock
3 / 30 Fotos
Cavalier
- The word "cavalier" comes from the Spanish cavallero, meaning "horse-rider," which in turn comes from cavallo, meaning "horse." Another related word is "chivalrous."
© Shutterstock
4 / 30 Fotos
Pedigree
- "Pedigree" comes from the Anglo-Norman pé de grue, meaning "foot of the crane." The word refers to the lines on genealogical charts, which look like crane footprints.
© Shutterstock
5 / 30 Fotos
Cynic
- "Cynic" comes from the Greek cynikos, meaning "dog-like" or "churlish."
© Shutterstock
6 / 30 Fotos
Hobby
- "Hobby" was an old term that people in England used to give cart-horses. It became a general word for a nice little pony, and then for a toy horse.
© Shutterstock
7 / 30 Fotos
Harpoon
- "Harpoon" comes from the French harpon, a cramp iron for holding stones together, which came from harpe, the word for a dog's claw.
© Shutterstock
8 / 30 Fotos
Arctic
- The Arctic takes its name from the Greek word for bear, arktos. However, the bear in question isn't a polar bear but the Great Bear, or Ursa Major, a constellation in the northern sky.
© Shutterstock
9 / 30 Fotos
Easel
- "Easel" is another donkey word, derived from the Dutch word for donkey, ezel.
© Shutterstock
10 / 30 Fotos
Formication
- "Formication" is the medical name for a creeping, tingling sensation felt on the skin, which takes its name from the Latin word for "ant," formica.
© Shutterstock
11 / 30 Fotos
Bawl
- The word "bawl" comes from the sound that a dog makes. In Latin, the word originated from the verb baulare, "to bark like a dog."
© Shutterstock
12 / 30 Fotos
Dandelion
- "Dandelion" comes from the French dent-de-lion, meaning "lion's tooth," a reference to the plant's jagged or tooth-like leaves.
© Shutterstock
13 / 30 Fotos
Pavilion
- "Pavilion" comes from the Latin word for butterfly, papilio. Pavilions were originally large tents, with durable fabric that unfurled like butterfly wings.
© Shutterstock
14 / 30 Fotos
Caprice
- "Caprice" is another goat-related word, which is believed to go back to the Italian capro, meaning goat, known for their whimsical skipping about.
© Shutterstock
15 / 30 Fotos
Tyke
- Used today to describe a small, mischievous child, "tyke" comes from Old Norse tík, a word for a female dog.
© Shutterstock
16 / 30 Fotos
Sturdy
- The word is believed to derive from the Latin turdus, the dull brown and speckled songbirds we now call thrushes.
© Shutterstock
17 / 30 Fotos
Sniper
- Dating back to the early 19th century, a "sniper" was originally someone who literally shot snipes.
© Shutterstock
18 / 30 Fotos
Aviation
- Aviation comes from the Latin word for bird, avis. It was coined in the 19th century, when humans were trying to figure out how to do that thing that birds do so well!
© Shutterstock
19 / 30 Fotos
Vaccine
- "Vaccine" comes from vacca, the Latin word for cow. The first vaccines were made from cowpox lesions, known as variola vaccinae, which were found to produce immunity from smallpox.
© Shutterstock
20 / 30 Fotos
Hackneyed
- "Hackneyed" comes from the Old French haquenée, a gentle sort of horse considered especially suitable for ladies to ride.
© Shutterstock
21 / 30 Fotos
Tragedy
- "Tragedy" derives from the Greek word tragoedia, literally meaning "goat song." One theory claims it comes from actors in ancient Greece dressing up as legendary animals (like goat-legged satyrs) in performances of dramas and tragedies.
© Shutterstock
22 / 30 Fotos
Harum-Scarum
- Meaning "reckless" or "disorganized," some linguists argue that the term comes from an old dialect corruption of "hare" and "scare," probably in reference to a hunter's dogs scaring rabbits and hares.
© Shutterstock
23 / 30 Fotos
Henchman
- The "hench" in henchman comes from hengest, an Old English word for a horse. The term was originally used to describe a knight or servant who would accompany a nobleman on horseback.
© Shutterstock
24 / 30 Fotos
Exocet
- An exocet is a type of marine missile developed by the French Navy in the late '60s. Its name is the French word for a flying fish.
© Shutterstock
25 / 30 Fotos
Burrito
- "Burrito" comes from the Spanish term for little burro, or little donkey.
© Shutterstock
26 / 30 Fotos
Bellwether
- Used today to describe a leader or trendsetter, in the Middle Ages a "bellwether" was originally the lead animal in a flock of sheep.
© Shutterstock
27 / 30 Fotos
Dauphin
- The title once held by the eldest son of the king of France, "dauphin" is actually the French word for dolphin.
© Shutterstock
28 / 30 Fotos
Treacle
- "Treacle" was employed in the 14th century as a word for a medicine or antidote used to treat snakebites. In this context, it comes from therion, an ancient Greek word for wild animals. Sources: (Mental Floss) (Dictionary.com) See also: https://www.starsinsider.com/lifestyle/536121/how-best-to-feed-backyard-birds
© Shutterstock
29 / 30 Fotos
Words you never knew were inspired by animals
From "cynic to "sniper," animals are part of the etymology of many words
© Shutterstock
What do the words "aviation" and "vaccine" have in common? Well, they're both descended from the names of different types of animals. From bears and birds, to dolphins and cows, animals have been the origin of a few unexpected words. Indeed, due to their importance to the lives and livelihoods of humans, it's no wonder animals have left a mark on language!
Curious? Check out this gallery for words that were etymologically inspired by animals.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
![The angel number of each zodiac sign](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66daea83cf3d5.jpg)
![Do you have a Sunday reset routine?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66dabb3c56bfa.jpg)
![Natural spies: Animals used in espionage](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d9cea393994.jpg)
![Miracles and a temper? Experts investigate Jesus' childhood](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66dafd980019e.jpg)
![Exploring the tree house hotel where Princess Elizabeth learned she'd be Queen](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66daf9f737929.jpg)
![The top 30 most valuable brands of 2024](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d6f050a2e93.jpg)
![Countries where bosses can't contact employees after hours](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66dae767723a3.jpg)
![The sad reality of femicide around the world](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66dace5c31b08.jpg)
![Who is the top goal scorer of all time?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66dac9cd5b549.jpg)
![The amazing life of Jane Goodall, the world's most famous primatologist](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d9c5a6523fb.jpg)
![What was the Neanderthal diet like?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d9c4ba462b7.jpg)
![The greatest surfers of all time](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d82a3991191.jpg)
![Fascinating facts you probably didn't know about the Oval Office](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66db0390a5798.jpg)
![How does tennis scoring actually work?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d82a540f53f.jpg)
![What would the world look like if mosquitos were eradicated?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d5eac49dc86.jpg)
![Countries that have banned X, TikTok, and Facebook](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d72124468bd.jpg)
![Outdated workplace trends to say goodbye to](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d8529e0ac2a.jpg)
![American football players who became coaches](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d59a4ede1a9.jpg)
![Experts predict a tsunami in Europe with 100% probability](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d97aef417a7.jpg)
![The greatest female wrestlers of all time](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d5d7aa902d2.jpg)
![How your zodiac sign influences your personality traits](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d84e22a505a.jpg)
![Unique ways your zodiac sign sabotages romantic relationships](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d84aee582cb.jpg)
![Japan's trick to reverse population collapse](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d719469c392.jpg)
![The terrifying history of the dark web](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d84942d0d7a.jpg)
![The F1 drivers with the most pole positions ever](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d71d2095a6e.jpg)
![The most (and least) intelligent zodiac signs, ranked](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d8447cb1c5d.jpg)
![The fascinating spiritual meaning of your animal dreams, revealed](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d83ec1a1923.jpg)
![Are you an introvert? These are the telltale signs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d840333af90.jpg)
![The sad reasons why some good relationships don't last](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d84195c34c0.jpg)
![Clear signs you've hit a midlife crisis](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d83d116bd09.jpg)
![Stunning pictures of the world's strangest and rarest weather phenomena](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d83c14b308e.jpg)
![These zodiac signs are the funniest](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d8329f2cd1f.jpg)
![You can live in luxury on a budget in these countries](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d82d763b2b6.jpg)
![This is why even the best players miss penalties during a shoot-out](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d82c209a643.jpg)
![Which countries have the most bald men?](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d838cccf6e9.jpg)
![Decode your pup: strange dog behaviors explained](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d086ddd77a1.jpg)
MOST READ
- Last Hour
- Last Day
- Last Week
-
1
CELEBRITY Relationships
-
2
LIFESTYLE Wealth
-
3
HEALTH Bad habit
-
4
LIFESTYLE History
-
5
FOOD Food storage
-
6
LIFESTYLE Secondhand
-
7
LIFESTYLE Secondhand
-
8
HEALTH Risks
-
9
-
10
LIFESTYLE Politics
Why is the far-right gaining popularity among young people in Europe?