hydra

hydra · noun¹

After the Hydra, from Greek mythology, which grew two new heads every time one of its heads was cut off. The biology sense alludes to the budding method of asexual reproduction that the hydra practices, similar to growing new heads. The figurative sense refers to how the creature could not be killed by a swift, decisive solution (in contrast to a Gordian knot).

Hydra · proper noun²

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*údreh₂“aquatic”
2. Ancient Greek · derived fromὕδρα
3. Latin · derived fromHydra
4. English todayHydra

From Latin Hydra, the mythical serpent, originally from Ancient Greek ὕδρα (húdra), from Proto-Indo-European *údreh₂ (“aquatic”). Doublet of otter.

Words from the same roots