Jaundice
/ˈdʒɔːn.dɪs/noun
A medical condition that causes yellowing of the skin and eyes due to excess bilirubin.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Latin *galbinus*, “greenish-yellow,” showing how ancient languages treated color as a powerful, almost elemental force.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ghel-
“to shine; yellow-green; bright”
Latin
Latin
galbinus
“greenish-yellow, pale yellow”
Old French
Old French
jaunisse
“yellowness; jaundice”
Middle English
English
jaundis
“jaundice; yellow discoloration”
Modern English
English
jaundice
“a disease or condition causing yellowing of the skin and eyes”
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