Rhipidophore
/rɪˈpɪd.ə.fɔːr/noun
A fan-shaped structure or organ, especially one that bears or supports other structures.
Did you know?Rhipidophore combines Greek imagery of a fan with the ancient verb “to bear,” the same root family behind words such as metaphor and semaphore.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bher-
“To carry or bear; the ancient root behind the “-phore” element.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ῥιπίς (rhipís)
“A fan, especially a hand fan or bellows-like instrument.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
-φόρος (-phoros)
“Bearing or carrying; from phérein, “to carry.””
19th Century
Scientific Greek
rhipidophoros
“Fan-bearing; a learned scientific formation describing a fan-shaped supporting structure.”
19th–20th Century
English
rhipidophore
“A fan-shaped organ or structure, especially in biological description.”