Phylum
/ˈfaɪ.ləm/noun
A major taxonomic category ranking above class and below kingdom.
Did you know?Phylum comes from Ancient Greek phŷlon, meaning “tribe” or “race,” reflecting the idea that organisms are grouped into natural lineages descended from a shared stock.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰuH-
“To grow, come into being, or exist”
Ancient Greek
Greek
phýein
“To grow or bring forth”
Ancient Greek
Greek
phŷlon
“A tribe, race, or living stock”
19th Century
New Latin
phylum
“A biological group or major division of organisms”
1866
English
phylum
“A principal rank in biological classification”