Formica
/fɔːrˈmiː.kə/noun
A genus of ants, or a hard plastic laminate used for countertops and surfaces.
Did you know?The scientific name *Formica* was chosen from the old Latin word for ant, and its survival in modern biology shows how ancient animal names can become “immortal” in taxonomy.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
formīca
“an ant”
Late Latin
Latin
formīca
“an ant; later used in learned vocabulary”
Scientific Latin
Latin
Formica
“the genus name for certain ants”
20th Century
English
Formica
“a trade name for a durable plastic laminate”
Modern English
English
formica
“a laminate surface material; also the ant genus in scientific usage”