planktonic

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromπλαγκτόν“drifting”
2. German · calque ofplanktonisch
3. English todayplanktonic

From plankton + -ic, after German planktonisch. From Ancient Greek πλαγκτόν (planktón, “drifting”), neuter nominative of πλαγκτός (planktós), from πλάζομαι (plázomai, “to wander, drift”), from πλάζω (plázō, “to cause to wander, drive astray”).

Words from the same roots