iris

iris · noun, verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*w(e)ih₁-ro-“a twist, thread, cord, wire”
2. Ancient Greek · derived fromἶρις“rainbow”
3. Latin · derived fromīris
4. Middle English · inherited fromiris
5. English todayiris

From Middle English iris, from Latin īris, from Ancient Greek ἶρις (îris, “rainbow”). Presuming an earlier form *ϝῖρις (*wîris), possibly from a derivative of Proto-Indo-European *w(e)ih₁-ro- (“a twist, thread, cord, wire”), from *weh₁y- (“to turn, twist, weave, plait”). If so, it would be cognate to English wire.

Iris · proper noun²

1. Ancient Greek · borrowed fromἾρις“rainbow”
2. English todayIris

From Ancient Greek Ἶρις (Îris, “rainbow”).

Words from the same roots