Word origin
[1555–65; trans. of L
agnus castus, var. of
agnos castus (by influence of
agnus lamb) ‹ Gk
ágnos kind of willow + L
castus chaste, reinforcement of the idea thought to be in
ágnos by confusion with Gk
hagnós pure
]This word is first recorded in the period 1555–65. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: clearance, diabetes, incompatible, social, straddle