Gamete
/ˈɡæm.iːt/noun
A reproductive cell, such as a sperm or egg, that carries one set of chromosomes.
Did you know?The Greek source distinguished gametēs, “husband,” from gametē, “wife,” inspiring the biological terms for male and female reproductive cells.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ǵemh₂-
“To marry; a reconstructed root associated with marriage”
Ancient Greek
Greek
γαμεῖν (gamein)
“To marry”
Ancient Greek
Greek
γαμέτης / γαμετή (gametēs / gametē)
“Husband / wife; marriage partner”
19th Century
Scientific Greek-derived terminology
gamete
“A reproductive cell, formed from Greek marriage vocabulary”
1880s
English
gamete
“A reproductive cell involved in sexual reproduction”
Modern English
English
gamete
“A sperm, egg, or other haploid reproductive cell”