chaeto-

1. a combining form meaning “hair,” used in the formation of compound words:

   chaetophorous.

Word History and Origins

Origin of chaeto-¹

1865–70; combining form representing Greek chaítē; chaeta

Words That Use Chaeto-

What does chaeto- mean?

Chaeto- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “hair” or “bristle.” It is used in some scientific terms, especially in zoology.

Chaeto- comes from the Greek chaítē, meaning “long hair.” A similar form to chaeto- is seti-, as in setigerous, from the Latin sēta, saeta, “bristle.”

Note that the first syllable in chaeto- is usually pronounced [ kee ], like key.

What are variants of chaeto-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, chaeto- becomes chaet-, as in chaetiferous.

Examples of chaeto-

One example of a term from zoology that features the form chaeto- is chaetotaxy, “the arrangement of bristles on the exoskeleton of an insect.”

The combining form chaeto- can refer to “bristles,” as we’ve seen. The combining form -taxy means “arrangement or order,” from the Greek táxis. Chaetotaxy literally translates to “bristle arrangement.”

What are some words that use the combining form chaeto-?

• chaetiferous
• chaetognath (using the equivalent form of chaeto- in New Latin)
• chaetophorous
• chaetopod (using the equivalent form of chaeto- in New Latin)

What are some other forms that chaeto- may be commonly confused with?

• ceto-
• centro-
• chiro-
• chloro-

Break it down!

The combining form -phorous means “bearing” or “having.” What does an organism described as chaetophorous bear?