"Tropikos" originally meant "turning" or "to turn," referring to the turning point of the sun's apparent path in the sky at the solstices. This turning point is marked by the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
Therefore, the word "tropical" became associated with the regions of the Earth located between these tropics, which are characterized by their hot and humid climate.
Here's a breakdown of the word's evolution:
* Greek: τροπικός (tropikos) - meaning "turning"
* Latin: tropicus - meaning "turning point" (referring to the sun's path)
* English: tropical - referring to the regions near the tropics, and later also to their climate.
So, the origin of the word "tropical" is rooted in the astronomical concept of the solstice and the sun's apparent turning point in the sky.