albinism
/ˈæl.bɪ.nɪz.əm/
noun
Origin
Latin
albus — white
Overview
Meaning Now
- A congenital condition characterized by a partial or complete lack of pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes due to an inability to produce melanin.
Language path
Latin → Portuguese → English
Earliest form
albinism
Earliest period
19th century
Journey
The term was initially used by Portuguese traders in West Africa to describe people with pale skin. It was later adopted into scientific discourse during the 18th and 19th centuries to categorize the specific biological condition of pigmentation deficiency observed across various species.
Evolution
- Latin
albus
“white”
- Portuguese
albino
“white person (originally applied to individuals with light skin in West Africa)”
Introduced by Portuguese explorers.
- English
albinism
“the medical condition of lack of pigment”
Formed in English using the suffix -ism.
Connections
Word parts
albin-
root
white
-ism
suffix
denoting a condition or state
Related across languages
French
albinisme
albinism
Spanish
albinismo
albinism
Related words
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.