Coreus
/ˈkɔːr.i.əs/noun
A genus of true bugs in the family Coreidae, commonly known as squash bugs or dock bugs.
Did you know?The ancient Greek word κόρις (kóris), meaning “bedbug,” is also considered a possible source of coriander’s name because the plant’s crushed leaves were said to smell like bedbugs.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
κόρις (kóris)
“Bedbug or bug”
Classical Greek
Greek
κορίαννον (koriannon)
“Coriander, possibly named for its bug-like odor”
Ancient Latin
Latin
coriandrum
“Coriander”
18th Century
Scientific Latin
Coreus
“Latinized taxonomic name derived from Greek kóris, “bedbug””
Modern English
English
Coreus
“A genus of true bugs in the leaf-footed bug family”
Explore more surprising origins