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Lewis’s Elementary Latin Dictionary
1890 American Book Company edition; pinned Perseus XML digitization
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English · Etymology
Coined in scientific literature around 1811. Likely from Echidna , a monster in Greek mythology, "a beautiful woman in the upper part of her body; but instead of legs and feet, she had from the waist downward, the form of a serpent", in which case the animal was named for its mixed features (early naturalists doubted whether it was a mammal or amphibian).
Alternatively, from Ancient Greek ἔχιδνα ( ékhidna , “ snake, viper ” ) via Latin echidna . Compare ἐχῖνος ( ekhînos , “ hedgehog, etc. ” ) . However, this sense is problematic (unless it is a reference to the ant-eating tongue). The name perhaps belongs to Latin echinus ( “ sea urchin, hedgehog ” ) from the aforementioned Ancient Greek term's alternate sense of "sea-urchin" (also "sharp points"), which Watkins explains as "snake-eater", from ἔχις ( ékhis , “ snake ” ) , though it may actually be from Proto-Indo-European * h₁éǵʰis ( “ hedgehog, hedgehog-like animals ” ) . The 1810 Encyclopaedia Britannica deduces thus the animal's alternative name as "porcupine ant-eater". Ultimately, the etymology may be from a synthesis of all the roots above. (From OED .)
Latin · Etymology
Borrowed from Ancient Greek ἔχιδνα ( ékhidna , “ viper ” ) .
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