Trichina
/trɪˈkaɪnə/noun
A parasitic nematode worm, especially one whose larvae encyst in muscle tissue.
Did you know?Trichina was named from Greek thrix, trich- “hair” because the larvae are so threadlike that early observers mistook them for hair-like filaments in tissue.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
θρίξ (thrix), τριχ- (trich-)
“hair”
Modern Scientific Latin
Latin
trichina
“a hairlike parasite”
1835
Latin
Trichina
“a genus name for the hairworm-like parasite”
Modern English
English
trichina
“a parasitic nematode, especially Trichinella spiralis”
Explore more surprising origins