英语词汇spermaceti的起源、历史背景-英语词源词典

词汇	spermaceti
词源	spermaceti n. "waxy, fatty stuff in the head of certain whales," late 15c., from Medieval Latin sperma ceti "sperm of a whale" (it has when fresh something of the appearance of sperm), from Latin sperma "seed, semen" (see sperm) + ceti, genitive of cetus "whale, large sea animal" (see Cetacea). The substance in olden times was credited with medicinal properties, as well as being used for candle oil. Use ... Sperma Cete ana with redd Wyne when ye wax old. [Sir George Ripley, "The Compound of Alchemy," 1471] Scientists still are not sure exactly what it does. Sperm whale, short for spermaceti whale, is from 1830. Entries linking to spermaceti sperm n. "male seminal fluid," late 14c., probably from Old French esperme "seed, sperm" (13c.) and directly from Late Latin sperma "seed, semen," from Greek sperma "the seed of plants, also of animals," literally "that which is sown," from speirein "to sow, scatter," from PIE sper-mn-, from root sper- "to spread, to sow" (see sparse). Sperm bank is attested from 1963. For sperm whale see spermaceti. Cetacea n. order of marine mammals including whales, 1795, Modern Latin, from Latin cetus "any large sea creature" (whales, seals, dolphins), from Greek kētos "a whale, a sea monster," which is of unknown origin, + -acea. updated on September 25, 2018
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spermaceti n.

Entries linking to spermaceti