Noctule
/ˈnɒk.tjuːl/noun
A large European bat of the genus Nyctalus, especially Nyctalus noctula.
Did you know?The word ultimately traces back to Latin nox, noctis, meaning “night,” the same root behind nocturnal, so its name is literally built from the language of darkness.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*nókʷts
“night”
Latin
Latin
nox, noctis
“night”
Late Latin
Latin
noctula
“little night creature”
Medieval Latin
Latin
noctula
“a bat, especially a small bat active at night”
Modern English
English
noctule
“a large European bat”
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