Coccid
/ˈkɒk.sɪd/noun
A scale insect belonging to the superfamily Coccoidea, including soft scales and related insects.
Did you know?The Greek root behind coccid also entered the history of red dyes, because certain scale insects were crushed to produce vivid crimson pigments.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kokkos
“A seed, grain, or small rounded object”
Ancient Greek
Greek
κόκκος (kókkos)
“A grain, seed, or berry”
Classical Latin
Latin
coccum
“A berry-like scale insect or the red dye obtained from it”
Medieval Latin
Latin
coccinus
“Scarlet or crimson, literally associated with the berry-red dye”
19th Century
Scientific Latin
Coccidae
“The taxonomic family of scale insects”
Modern English
English
coccid
“A scale insect of the coccid group”
Explore more surprising origins