Etymologically
Log in

iode

History Permalink

Etymology and origin of the French word iode

Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing, Coinage
First attested
1812 Gay-Lussac, Mémoires de l'Académie des sciences More words from the 19th century
Borrowed from
Ancient Greek ἰώδης
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek ἰώδης
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French iode
English iodine

Pronunciation

Forms

iode m (uncountable)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek ἰώδης (iṓdēs, “violet-coloured”), a name given in 1812 by Gay-Lussac to the element found by Courtois, after the violet colour of its vapour.[2][3][4][1] The Greek adjective is formed from ἴον (íon, “violet (the flower)”) and εἶδος (eîdos, “form, appearance”).[3][5] Littré and the DHLF compare the Greek word for the violet with Latin viola, the source of violette.[6][3]

English iodine was formed from the French word by Humphry Davy in 1814, by analogy with chlorine.[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

Gay-Lussac introduced the word in 1812 in the Mémoires de l'Académie des sciences, naming the substance discovered by Courtois “à cause de la belle couleur violette de sa vapeur” (because of the fine violet colour of its vapour).[4][2]

Semantic evolution

Littré records that Courtois found the substance in 1811 in the mother liquors of wrack (seaweed).[6] The word passed into common use in teinture d'iode, an alcoholic solution of iodine for painting wounds, which has receded since other antiseptics took its place.[3]

It gave many chemical and pharmaceutical terms: iodique and iodure (1812), iodate (1816), iodé (1824) and ioder (1861), and iodoforme (1834).[3]

Timeline

  • 1812 – Gay-Lussac names it iode.[2][4]
  • 1812 – Iodure and acide iodique are recorded.[3]
  • 1814 – Davy forms English iodine from the French word.[7]
  • 1834 – Iodoforme is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (chemistry) iodine, the element of symbol I and atomic number 53, a halogen that gives off violet vapour when heated.[8][9][2]
  2. (medicine) Iodine as needed for the hormones of the thyroïde and used as an antiseptic: teinture d'iode.[9][8][2]
  3. Lampe à iode, also phares à iode: a halogen lamp, or headlamps containing iodine.[8][9]

Word family

  • iodure
  • iodé
  • iodique
  • iodate
  • ioder
  • iodoforme

Usage notes

The word sounds like yod.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  5. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  6. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  8. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  9. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Iode.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/iode. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·