Zoology
/zoʊˈɑːlədʒi/noun
The branch of biology that studies animals.
Did you know?The first half comes from Greek zōion, meaning “animal” or “living being,” a root that also appears in words like zodiac, originally tied to the “circle of animals” in the sky.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
zōion (ζῷον)
“animal; living being”
Ancient Greek
Greek
-logia (-λογία)
“study of; discourse”
Late Latin
Latin
zoologia
“study of animals”
17th Century
English
zoologie
“the study of animals”
Modern English
English
zoology
“the scientific study of animals”