Pipistrellus
/ˌpɪpɪˈstrɛləs/noun
A genus of small bats in the family Vespertilionidae.
Did you know?The name was Latinized from Italian dialect forms for a bat, ultimately tied to the same root behind the English word "vesper"-style twilight imagery, which is why bat names often feel like they belong to the night itself.
Etymological Timeline
Medieval Italian
Italian
pipistrello
“A bat, especially a small one”
18th Century
Latinized scientific name
Pipistrellus
“A genus name created from the Italian word for bat”
Modern English
English
pipistrelle
“A small bat of the genus Pipistrellus or a closely related bat”
Modern English
English
Pipistrellus
“The scientific genus name for pipistrelle bats”
Explore more surprising origins