What does bombȳx mean in Latin?

bombȳx, a noun, means “silkworm”.

What is the genitive of bombȳx?

The genitive singular is bombȳcis. bombȳx is masculine, third declension.

In classical Latin, [ˈbɔm.byːks]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈbɔm.biks].

English words that go back to Latin bombȳx include bombyx, bombast and bombazine.

noun · masculinethird declension

bombȳx m (genitive bombȳcis)

Classical[ˈbɔm.byːks]Ecclesiastical[ˈbɔm.biks]

bombyx, ȳcis, m. (f., Plin. 11, 23, 27; Tert. Pall. 3), = βόμβυξ.

I. The silk-worm, Plin. 11, 22, 25, § 75 sqq.; Mart. 8, 33, 16; Serv. ad Verg. G. 2, 121; Isid. Orig. 12, 5, 8; 19, 27, 5.—

II. Meton.

A. That which is made of silk, a silken garment, silk: Arabius, Arabian (the best), Prop. 2, 3, 15: Assyria bombyx, Plin. 11, 23, 27, § 78.—

B. In gen., for any fine fibre, e. g. cotton, Plin. 19, 1, 2, § 14.

From Ancient Greek βόμβυξ (bómbux); see Middle Persian pmbk' for more.

Descendants