Etymology

macula

mac·u·la
M3A1C3U1L1A1

Today it means: An oval yellow spot near the center of the retina of the human eye, histologically defined as having two or more layers of ganglion cells, responsible for detailed central vision. Full definition →

Middle English macula ← Latin macula
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The story

  1. Latin · derived frommacula“spot, stain”
  2. Middle English · inherited frommacula“spot on the skin or in the eye”
  3. English todaymacula

From Middle English macula (“spot on the skin or in the eye”), borrowed from Latin macula (“spot, stain”). Doublet of macchia and macule.

Words from the same roots

Latinmacula all →

mailmaquismacchiamaclemacula lutea

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.