Etymology

vertebra

V4E1R1T1E1B3R1A1

Today it means: Any of the bony or cartilaginous segments which make up the backbone, consisting in some lower vertebrates of several distinct elements which never become united, and in higher vertebrates having a short more or less cylindrical body whose ends articulate by pads of elastic or cartilaginous tissue with those of adjacent vertebrae and a bony arch that encloses the spinal cord. Full definition →

Latin vertebra ← Proto-Italic *ðrā ← Proto-Indo-European *wértetor
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The story

  1. Proto-Indo-European*wert-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*wértetor
  3. Proto-Italic*wertō
  4. Latinvertō
  5. Proto-Italic*ðrā
  6. Latinvertebra
  7. English todayvertebra

Borrowing from Latin vertebra (“a joint”), from vertō (“to turn”) + -bra (instrumental nominal suffix). Having multiple vertebrae (plural of vertebra) in one's backbone instead of having a single bone or solid spine, allows for the movement of the body with bends and turns. Hence meaning 1.

Words from the same roots

Latinvertebra all →

vertebre

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.