Termite
来自Big Physics
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late 18th century: from late Latin termes, termit- ‘woodworm’, alteration of Latin tarmes, perhaps by association with terere ‘to rub’.
wiktionary
From French termite, which is from Latin termites (three syllables), plural of termes.
Also possibly a derivation from Proto-Indo-European *term-(“drill”).
etymonline
termite (n.)
1849, back-formation from plural form termites (1781), from Modern Latin termites (three syllables), plural of termes (genitive termitis), a special use of Late Latin termes "woodworm, white ant," altered (by influence of Latin terere "to rub, wear, erode") from earlier Latin tarmes. Their nest is a terminarium (1863). Earlier in English known as wood ant or white ant.
