Etymology

permethrin

P3E1R1M3E1T1H4R1I1N1

Today it means: A synthetic insecticide, C₂₁H₂₀Cl₂O₃, used to treat head lice, nits, and scabies; as an active ingredient in flea collars; and to eradicate woodworm infestations. Full definition →

Latin perme(ō) ← Proto-Italic *mejo- ← Proto-Indo-European *mey-o-
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The story

  1. Proto-Indo-European*per-
  2. Proto-Italic*peri-
  3. Latinper-
  4. Proto-Indo-European*mey-
  5. Proto-Indo-European*mey-o-
  6. Proto-Italic*mejo-
  7. Latinmeō
  8. Latinperme(ō)
  9. English todaypermethrin

From Latin perme(ō) (“to pervade”) + English -thrin.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.