Helical
/ˈhɛlɪkəl/noun
Having the shape of a spiral or corkscrew.
Did you know?Its root is Greek *helix*, meaning a spiral or anything that coils—an image later used by scientists for everything from snail shells to the double-helix structure of life itself.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἕλιξ (helix)
“A spiral, coil, or anything twisted in a curve.”
Late Latin
Latin
helicus
“Spiral or winding.”
Middle French
French
hélicoïdal / hélice
“Spiral-shaped; a spiral form.”
17th-19th Century
English
helical
“Pertaining to or shaped like a helix.”
Modern English
English
helical
“Having the shape of a spiral or corkscrew.”
Explore more surprising origins