iris etymology

Etymology:

• Greek "íris"

Meaning:

• Rainbow
• Messenger of the gods
• Goddess of the rainbow and the messenger of the gods (in Greek mythology)

Origin:

• Proto-Indo-European root "*h₁eys-" (to shine)
  • Sanskrit "iriṇa" (rainbow)
  • Latin "iris" (rainbow)
  • Irish "iarr" (east)
  • English "iris" (plant)

Historical Usage:

In Greek mythology, Iris was the messenger of the gods, particularly for Zeus (Jupiter). She was depicted as a young woman with wings, often shown with a rainbow as her symbol.

The term "iris" was also used in botany to refer to the colored part of the flower surrounding the reproductive structures. This usage is believed to derive from the plant's resemblance to the rainbow.

iris relate terms

• iridescent

  Etymology The word iridescent comes from the Late Latin word iris meaning rainbow

• iris

  Etymology Greek íris Meaning Rainbow Messenger of the gods Goddess of the rainb

• iridium

  Etymology The word iridium originates from the Greek word iris радуга whic

• iris

  Etymology Greek íris Meaning Rainbow Messenger of the gods Goddess of the rainb

• ferrule

  Etymology Late Latin ferrūla diminutive of ferrum meaning iron Meaning A meta

• garland

  Etymology The word garland comes from the Old French word guirlande which in turn d

• iridescence

  Etymology Greek iris rainbow descere to descend Meaning The exhibition

• iridescent

  Etymology The word iridescent comes from the Late Latin word iris meaning rainbow

• iris

  Etymology Greek íris Meaning Rainbow Messenger of the gods Goddess of the rainb

• iridium

  Etymology The word iridium originates from the Greek word iris радуга whic

• vise

  Etymology Middle English vis from Old French vis from Latin vitis meaning vine

• viticulture

  Etymology The word viticulture is derived from the Latin words vitis grapevine and

• wire

  Etymology Old English wīre Proto Germanic wīrą Proto Indo European weyro to t

• withe

  Etymology Middle English with e from Old English wið with against by corresponding

• withy

  Etymology Old English wiðig Proto Germanic wiðijaz Proto Indo European wit iy eh₂

• flag

  Etymology Old English fleg ge masc floga fem meaning cloth piece of clot

• fleur de lis

  Etymology The term fleur de lis is derived from the French phrase fleur de lis meani

• hyacinth

  Etymology Greek hyakinthos Meaning A type of flower typically blue or purple in

• pupil

  Etymology The word pupil comes from the Latin word pupilla which originally meant t

• post

  Etymology From Middle English post from Anglo Norman and Old French post from Latin p

• spot

  Etymology The word spot traces its origins back to Old English OE specifically to t

• stop

  Etymology The word stop comes from the Middle English word stoppen which itself deri

• optic

  Etymology The word optic is derived from the Greek word optikos which means relati

• topic

  Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words as well as their meaning and fo

• diaphragm

  Etymology Greek diaphragma meaning wall or partition Meaning A thin dome sha