Etymograph

English

prop-

Prop- comes from French propionique ‘propionic’.

  1. Frenchc. 1600–presentpropionique1‘propionic’
  2. Englishtodayprop-1

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

  1. 1 Wiktionary, English prop-

Lineage

  1. Frenchc. 1600–presentpropioniqueWiktionary, English prop-‘propionic’
  2. Englishtodayprop-Wiktionary, English prop-

A compound of πρῶτος ‘first’ + πίων ‘fat’

Proto-Hellenic *pro-atos

Ancient Greek πρό ‘before’

Ancient Greek πρῶτος ‘first’

Proto-Indo-European *peyH- ‘fat’

Ancient Greek πίων ‘fat’

Linked words

through French propionique ‘propionic’

propane, propylene, 2 more

Today it means

prefix Denoting the presence of 3 carbon atoms in the parent chain when forming names of organic compounds.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “prop-”. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.

Etymograph / French propionique / prop-

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