Nanus
/ˈnɑː.nəs/noun
A dwarf; in biology, a dwarf form or dwarf-like.
Did you know?Latin *nanus* was borrowed from Greek *nanos* for a dwarf or small person, and its descendants survive most visibly in scientific terms like *nanism* and *nano-* rather than everyday English.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*nen-
“A proposed ancient root sometimes linked to smallness, though the exact prehistory is uncertain.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
νᾶνος (nânos)
“A dwarf; a very small person.”
Classical Latin
Latin
nanus
“A dwarf; a person of unusually short stature.”
Late Latin / Medieval Latin
Latin
nanus
“Used in learned and medical writing for a dwarf or dwarf-like condition.”
Modern English
English
nanus
“A technical or learned term referring to dwarfism or a dwarf-like form.”
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