Sphragidium
/sfraˈdʒɪdiəm/noun
A small seal or signet; also used in zoology for a sealing structure or plate in some organisms.
Did you know?It ultimately comes from Greek *sphragis* meaning “seal,” the same root behind *sphragistics*, the study of seals used to authenticate power, ownership, and sacred authority.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
sphragís (σφραγίς)
“a seal, signet, or mark used to authenticate and secure something”
Late Greek
Greek
sphragídion (σφραγίδιον)
“a little seal; a small signet or sealing device”
Medieval Latin
Latin
sphragidium
“a small seal or seal-like object”
Modern English
English
sphragidium
“a small seal or a seal-like biological structure”