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Meaning of potamogeton in English:

potamogeton

Pronunciation /?p?t?m?(?)?d?i?t?n/ /?p?t?m?(?)?ɡi?t?n/

noun

Botany

  • Originally: any of several kinds of aquatic plant (not identified). Later: specifically (Potamogeton) a cosmopolitan genus of aquatic plants with submerged and sometimes floating leaves (family Potamogetonaceae); (also potamogeton) any of various plants of this genus; a pondweed.

    Valid publication of the genus name: Linnaeus Species Plantarum (1753) 126, after earlier use by Tournefort (1700).

Origin

Early 17th century; earliest use found in Philemon Holland (1552–1637), translator. From post-classical Latin potamogeton, variant (e.g. in 16th-cent. editions of Pliny) of classical Latin potamogītōn (Pliny) from Hellenistic Greek ποταμογε?των pondweed from ancient Greek ποταμ?? river + γε?των neighbour.