Etymology of saliva

Origin of the word saliva.

The word saliva comes from the Latin saliva (spittle) of unknown origin. Perhaps it is related to the Greek sialon (saliva, spittle; Gr: σίαλον).

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From the same root:

English: salivation, salivary, salivate

French: salive, salivation, salivaire

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In modern Greek:

a) salio or sialos or sielos: saliva [Gr: σάλιο or σίαλος or σίελος]

b) sielogonos: salivary [Gr: σιελογόνος]

c) sielorrhea: salivation [Gr: σιελόρροια]

OED

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