Leucism
/ˈluː.sɪz.əm/noun
A partial loss of pigmentation in an animal, causing pale or patchy coloration while usually preserving normal eye color.
Did you know?The word comes from Greek leukos, “white,” a root that also gave English luminous-sounding terms like leukemia and leukocyte, though leucism itself is a modern biological term.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leuk-
“to shine, be bright, white”
Ancient Greek
Greek
λευκός (leukós)
“white, bright, gleaming”
Late 19th Century
Scientific English
leucism
“a condition of partial whiteness or loss of pigmentation in animals”
Modern English
English
leucism
“partial loss of pigmentation, especially in animals”
Explore more surprising origins