Rhinovirus
/ˈraɪ.noʊˌvaɪ.rəs/noun
A group of viruses that commonly cause the common cold.
Did you know?The first half comes from Greek *rhis/rhinos* meaning “nose,” the same root behind words like rhinoplasty, so this virus was named for the exact place it attacks.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ῥίς / ῥινός (rhis / rhinos)
“nose”
19th Century
Greek
-virus
“poison, venom, or infectious agent”
1950s
English
rhinovirus
“a virus associated with infections of the nose and upper respiratory tract”
Modern English
English
rhinovirus
“a common-cold virus, especially one in the genus Rhinovirus”
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