Etymograph

English

scleroderma

Scleroderma comes from New Latin sclēroderma.

  1. New Latinc. 1500–1900sclēroderma1
  2. Englishtodayscleroderma1

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

  1. 1 Wiktionary, English scleroderma

Lineage

  1. New Latinc. 1500–1900sclērodermaWiktionary, English scleroderma
  2. EnglishtodaysclerodermaWiktionary, English scleroderma

A compound of σκληρός ‘hard’ + δέρμα ‘skin, hide’

Proto-Indo-European *(s)kelh₁- ‘to parch, wither’

Ancient Greek σκληρός ‘hard’

Proto-Indo-European *der- ‘to tear, tear apart’

Proto-Hellenic *dérō

Ancient Greek δέρω ‘to skin, flay’

Ancient Greek δέρμα ‘skin, hide’

Every English word from New Latin sclēroderma

Today it means

noun A chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by hardening the skin or other organs through excessive deposits of collagen.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “scleroderma”. 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 / New Latin sclēroderma / scleroderma

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