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pancreas

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word pancreas

Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
Borrowed from
Ancient Greek πάγκρεας
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek πάγκρεας
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Ancient Greek πᾶς (pân)
Ancient Greek πάγκρεας (pánkreas)
Latin pancreas
English pancreas
From the same root
Ancient Greek παντόμιμος (pantómīmos) ← πᾶς

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈpaŋ.kre.as][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈpaŋ.kre.as][1]

Forms

pancreas n (genitive pancreatis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek πάγκρεας (pánkreas, “sweetbread, pancreas”),[1][2] formed from Ancient Greek πᾶν (pân, “all”) + κρέας (kréas, “flesh”).[1][3] Etymonline suggests the organ was so called because its substance is uniform.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The DMLBS quotes it from an anatomical treatise of British origin, which says that the pancreas clings to the duodenum and is a glandular flesh, also called καλλίκρεας by the Greeks.[2]

Semantic evolution

It is an anatomical term for the gland of the abdomen.[2][1] English took pancreas in the 1570s from the Latinized form of the Greek word.[3]

Timeline

Meanings

Noun

  1. (anatomy) The pancreas.[2][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Pancreas.” Etymologically, 7 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/la/pancreas. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·