Onychosis
/ˌɒnɪˈkəʊsɪs/noun
A disease or abnormal condition of the nails.
Did you know?Onychosis is built from Greek onyx, onych- meaning “nail” or “claw,” the same root behind words like onychology and onychophagy, giving this medical term a very old, animal-linked body vocabulary.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Gk
ὄνυξ (onyx), ὀνυχ- (onych-)
“nail, claw, or talon”
Late Greek / Medical Greek
Gk
ὀνύχωσις (onykhōsis)
“a condition affecting the nails”
Modern Medical Latin
Latin
onychosis
“a disease or abnormal condition of the nails”
Modern English
English
onychosis
“a nail disorder”
Explore more surprising origins