Penis
/ˈpiː.nɪs/noun
The male reproductive organ in humans and some animals.
Did you know?The word "penis" comes from Latin, where it literally means "tail," suggesting a connection to life and fertility in ancient cultures.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pes-
“to append, to hang down, symbolizing life force.”
Latin
Latin
penis
“tail, a term used to denote the male reproductive organ.”
Old French
Old French
penis
“continued use of the Latin term in a formal sense.”
Middle English
Middle English
penis
“adopted from Old French, retaining the original Latin meaning.”
Modern English
English
penis
“the male organ, used in both anatomical and colloquial contexts.”