sarc-

combining form

variants or sarco-

1

: flesh

sarcoid

2

: striated muscle

sarcolemma

Word History

Etymology

combining form from Greek sark-, sárx "flesh, piece of meat," probably going back to Indo-European *tu̯r̥ḱ-, noun derivative of a verbal base *tu̯erḱ- "cut, shape by cutting, carve" whence, also with zero grade, Avestan θβərəsaiti "(s/he) carves, shapes," θβōrəštar- "shaper, creator," Sanskrit Tvaṣṭar-, name of a creator deity, and perhaps, from *tu̯orkos or *turkos, Old Irish torc "wild boar," Welsh twrch, Middle Breton tourch