Etymograph

English

membrane

Membrane comes from Latin membrāna ‘skin or membrane that covers parts of the body’, from Proto-Indo-European *mḗms ‘flesh’, and ultimately from *mems-.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*mems-‘flesh, meat’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*mḗms‘flesh’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*memzromreconstructed
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEmembrum‘a limb or member of the body’
  5. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEmembrāna‘skin or membrane that covers parts of the body’
  6. Englishearliest quotation 1964membrane

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*mems-‘flesh, meat’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*mḗms‘flesh’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*memzromreconstructed
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEmembrum‘a limb or member of the body’
  5. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEmembrāna‘skin or membrane that covers parts of the body’
  6. Englishearliest quotation 1964membrane

Earliest quotation: 1964, SYNTHETIC FILM CAN ACT AS GILL; Silicone Rubber Membrane Is : “The animal was breathing oxygen that permeated from the…”

The story

Late Middle English, borrowed from Latin membrāna (‘skin or membrane that covers parts of the body’), from membrum (‘a limb or member of the body’) + -āna.

Linked words

through Latin membrum ‘a limb or member of the body’

member, 6 more

Today it means

noun A mechanical, thin, flat flexible part that can deform or vibrate when excited by an external force.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *mems- / membrane

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