A Latin dictionary is actually quite good and has the advantage of being cheap if you get a simple school version. But, the derivation of the names as given to animals and plants is not always Latin and is often Greek or just latinised words. These last are obviously not classical in origin (usually).

The two books I keep by the desk for entertainment and enlightenment are E. Maitland Emmet's modern classic 'The scientific names of the British Lepidoptera' (1991). In this he warns of the lack of scholarship in other works, especially the notorious Mcleod. The author AS Byatt nominated it her xmas book of the year in 1992 for 'its fierce and dry wit ..... elegant and amusing'.

The other is the wonderful 'Naturalist's Lexicon' by Robert S Woods, 1944, Pasadena Press, USA. I have never seen another copy for sale in 2nd hand book shops (I got mine in Foyles many years ago) but note there are some on the internet for a reasonable price. Note that there are two parts, the separate Addendum is for those who want names to give their new species if stuck for ideas - English back into Latin or Greek.

Geoff Hancock
Curator of Entomology
Hunterian Museum (Zoology)
Graham Kerr Building
University of Glasgow
G12 8QQ
Glasgow, Scotland,UK

tel: 00(44)141 330 2194
fax: 00(44)141 330 5971

<<http://www.hunterian.gla.ac.uk>>

The University of Glasgow, charity number SC004401

From: The Natural Science Collections Association discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Lucas, Claire
Sent: 10 March 2010 16:38
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Latin dictionary

Does anyone know a good dictionary for Latin in science? I have been wanting to find out about the names in the entomology collection for some time and thought it could also be of interest to the public. So far all I have guessed is punctata = dot (as in Propylea 14-punctata, 14-spot ladybird)!

I have a great book for mammals and birds explaining their name, but nothing for the insects...

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