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vaccine

The origin and history of vaccine.

Etymology

From Latin vaccinus, "of a cow," from vacca ("cow"). Edward Jenner coined the related Latin term variolae vaccinae ("cowpox") in the late 1700s, after using cowpox material to protect people against smallpox.

Origin: Latin · First attested 1700

Class of 1700

vaccine first entered the language around 1700. Other words from the same year:

See the full Class of 1700 →
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Etymology: FreeDict original editorial.