Latin word corona (meaning crown) comes from Ancient Greek κορώνη (koróni - garland, wreath) which probably derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *sker- (turn, bend). The name has been applied to the COVID-19 coronavirus and other viruses in this group allegedly due to the crown-shaped protein spikes around the virus particles when viewed under the microscope
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *sker | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | turn, bend |
| κορώνη | Ancient Greek (to 1453) (grc) | garland, wreath |
| corona | Latin (lat) | Crown. Garland, chaplet, laurel, or wreath; presented to athletes, the gods, or the dead. |