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scorpion

SKOR-pee-uhn · noun

Origin

English scorpion comes from Middle English scorpioun, itself drawn partly from Old English sċorpio and partly from Anglo-Norman and Old French scorpïun/escorpïon, all tracing back to Latin scorpiō, which came from Ancient Greek σκορπίος (skorpíos).

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Journey

The word entered Old English directly as sċorpio, then was reinforced by French forms during Middle English, giving us the modern spelling. It once had a native rival — Old English þrōwend — but scorpion won out and pushed that word out of use entirely.

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