phytolacca

The story

1. Italian · derived fromlacca“crimson lake”
2. Ancient Greek · derived fromφῠτόν“plant”
3. New Latin · derived fromphytolacca
4. English todayphytolacca

From New Latin phytolacca, from Ancient Greek φῠτόν (phŭtón, “plant”) + Italian lacca (“crimson lake”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 18th c. Any of the genus Phytolacca of herbaceous plants; the poke or pokeweed.