croton

croton · noun¹

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromκροτών“tick”
2. New Latin · borrowed fromcrotōn
3. English todaycroton

From New Latin crotōn, from Ancient Greek κροτών (krotṓn, “tick”), from the size and shape of the seed.

Croton · proper noun²

The river takes its name from the (Mohegan-Pequot) name of the chief of the group which lived along it. (It was formerly named after the group itself, the Kitchawan subdivision of the Mohegan.) The river feeds the Croton Reservoir in Croton-on-Hudson, which feeds the Croton Aqueduct, which supplies water to New York City, hence the metonymic sense. Early spellings of the name include Scroton.

Croton · proper noun³

1. Latin · borrowed fromCrotōn
2. English todayCroton

Borrowed from Latin Crotōn. Doublet of Crotone.

First known use, by meaning

• from 1840 The water supply of New York City.