Revised 2017
† zootokonnoun
Factsheet
What does the noun zootokon mean?
There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun zootokon. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.
This word is now obsolete. It is only recorded in the mid 1600s.
Where does the noun zootokon come from?
Earliest known use
mid 1600s
The only known use of the noun zootokon is in the mid 1600s.
OED's only evidence for zootokon is from 1661, in the writing of Robert Lovell, naturalist.
zootokon is a borrowing from Greek.
Etymons: Greek ζωοτόκον, ζωοτόκος.
Nearby entries
- zootechnic, adj.1861–
- zootechnics, n.1863–
- zootechny, n.1841–
- zootheca, n.1852–
- zoothecium, n.1880–
- zootheism, n.1879–
- zootheist, n.1879–
- zootheistic, adj.1879–
- zoothome, n.1872–
- zootic, adj.1816–
- zootokon, n.1661
- zootomic, adj.1801–
- zootomical, adj.1799–
- zootomically, adv.1849–
- zootomist, n.1663–
- zootomy, n.1663–
- zootoxin, n.1906–
- zootrophy, n.1877–
- zoot suit, n.1942–
- zoot-suited, adj.1942–
- zoot-suiter, n.1942–
Etymology
Summary
A borrowing from Greek.
Etymons: Greek ζωοτόκον, ζωοτόκος.
< ancient Greek ζωοτόκον, neuter of ζωοτόκος viviparous (Aristotle) < ζωο- zoo- comb. form + ‑τόκος (see toco- comb. form).Compare post-classical Latin zootokon (13th cent. in a translation of Aristotle), zootocon (1513 or…
< ancient Greek ζωοτόκον, neuter of ζωοτόκος viviparous (Aristotle) < ζωο- zoo- comb. form + ‑τόκος (see toco- comb. form).Compare post-classical Latin zootokon (13th cent. in a translation of Aristotle), zootocon (1513 or earlier).Compare viviparous adj.
Meaning & use
Obsolete. rare.
- 1661A viviparous animal.
- 1661
They [sc. bats] are zootokons, only, amongst all flying creatures, and bring forth in holes, two young ones at a time.
R. Lovell, Πανζωορυκτολογια, sive Panzoologicomineralogia 132