helical
/ˈhɛlɪkəl/adjective
Having the shape or form of a spiral
From Latin, from Ancient Greek helic- (Spiral).
Lineage
helic-
-al
GreekLatinGermanicnot directly attestedSelect a stage for details, or drag it
The story
Picture a spiral staircase winding up a tower: that shape is the heart of helical. The word was recorded around 1600, built from Latin helicem, the form of helix, and the adjective-making ending -al. The Latin word leads back to Greek ἕλιξ (hélix), meaning a spiral—a twist that also appears in familiar scientific language such as “helix.” Add -al, and the word describes something with that coiling form. A helix names the twist; helical lets the twist describe the staircase, spring, or molecule.