muscular
/ˈmʌskjʊlər/
adjective
Origin
Latin
musculus — little mouse, muscle
Overview
Meaning Now
- Having well-developed or strong muscles.
- Relating to or consisting of muscle.
Literal older meaning
pertaining to or resembling a little mouse
Language path
Latin → Middle French → English
Earliest form
muscularis
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The term reflects the ancient anatomical observation that the flexing of a muscle under the skin resembles the scurrying movement of a mouse, hence the Latin diminutive 'musculus'.
Evolution
- Proto-Indo-European
*mūs
“mouse”
- Latin
mūsculus
“little mouse; muscle”
Diminutive of mūs; movement under the skin compared to a mouse moving
- New Latin
muscularis
“pertaining to muscles”
- 17th century English
muscular
“pertaining to muscles”
Connections
Word parts
muscul
root
muscle
ar
suffix
pertaining to
Related across languages
French
musculaire
muscular
Italian
muscolare
muscular
Explore next
Related to muscular
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.