Silia
/ˈsɪl.i.ə/noun
A plural form of silium, referring to fine hairlike structures, especially cilia, on a cell or organism.
Did you know?The biological term ultimately connects these microscopic structures with the Latin word cilium, meaning “eyelid” or “eyelash,” because both resemble delicate hairs.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kel-
“To cover, hide, or conceal.”
Classical Latin
Latin
cilium
“An eyelid or eyelash; a projecting hairlike edge.”
Late Latin
Latin
silium
“A variant or transferred form associated with a hairlike structure.”
19th Century
Scientific Latin
silium
“A microscopic hairlike structure on a cell or organism.”
Modern English
English
silia
“Plural of silium, used for fine hairlike cellular structures.”