Aspirin
/ˈæs.pə.rɪn/noun
A pain-relieving and fever-reducing medicine originally derived from salicylic acid.
Did you know?Aspirin was coined in 1899 by Bayer from the 'a' in acetyl, 'spir' from meadowsweet’s old genus name Spiraea, and the common drug suffix '-in'—so its name is a manufactured modern invention, not an ancient word.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
speira
“A coil, twist, or something wound around”
Latin
Latin
spira
“A coil, curl, or winding line”
Early Modern Botany
Neo-Latin
Spiraea
“A genus of shrubs, including meadowsweet”
1899
German/Trademark
Aspirin
“Bayer’s coined name for acetylsalicylic acid”
Modern English
English
aspirin
“A common analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug”