Venation
/vɪˈneɪʃən/noun
The arrangement of veins in a leaf, insect wing, or similar structure; historically, the act of hunting.
Did you know?In Renaissance and early modern English, venation could refer to aristocratic hunting culture before becoming primarily a technical botanical and zoological term.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wen-
“To desire, strive for, or pursue; a proposed ancestral root behind several Latin and Germanic forms.”
Classical Latin
Latin
venārī
“To hunt or pursue wild animals.”
Classical Latin
Latin
vēnātiō
“Hunting, the chase, or a hunt—especially the pursuit of game.”
12th–14th Century
Old French
venaison / venerie
“Game animals or the practice and equipment of hunting; related forms entered English as venison and venery.”
17th Century
New Latin
venatio
“A technical term for the arrangement of veins, modeled on Latin vena, “vein.””
Modern English
English
venation
“The pattern or arrangement of veins, especially in leaves and insect wings; also an older word for hunting.”