What is the origin of word cirrus?

The word "cirrus" comes from the Latin word "cirrus," meaning "curl" or "lock of hair." This perfectly describes the appearance of cirrus clouds, which are wispy, feathery clouds that look like curls or locks of hair.

The word was first used to describe these clouds by Luke Howard, a British chemist and meteorologist, in his groundbreaking work on cloud classification in 1803. He used the term "cirrus" for the highest level clouds, which were characterized by their thin, delicate, and often fibrous appearance.

So, the next time you look up and see those wispy, high-altitude clouds, remember their name comes from the Latin word for "curl" - a fitting description for their beautiful and often ethereal appearance.