Membrane
/ˈmɛm.breɪn/noun
A thin, flexible layer of tissue or material that separates or encloses parts of a structure.
Did you know?In Classical Latin, membrāna referred not only to biological membranes but also to parchment made from animal skin—the original “living page.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mems-
“Flesh or meat”
Proto-Italic
Proto-Italic
*memsrom
“A limb or bodily part, likely understood as flesh”
Classical Latin
Latin
membrum
“A limb, bodily member, or part”
Classical Latin
Latin
membrāna
“A thin skin, membrane, or parchment”
14th Century
Old French
membrane
“A thin bodily covering or parchment”
15th Century
English
membrane
“A thin tissue layer or bodily covering”