Origin and history of streptomycin

word-forming element in science, used to form names of antibiotic compounds derived from fungi, from Latinized form of Greek mykēs "fungus, mushroom" (see myco-).

before vowels strept-, word-forming element used in science to mean "twisted; in the form of a chain," from Latinized combining form of Greek streptos "twisted, flexible, easy to bend, pliant," as a noun, "a necklace, a curl," verbal adjective of strephein "to turn, twist, wind."

Greek strophē "a twisting, turning around" is another variant from strephein. The verb is generally reconstructed to be from PIE root *streb(h)- "to wind, turn." But Beekes writes that "The root has no Indo-European cognates," and he compares streblos "turned, twisted, crooked, cunning," which he suggests is of Pre-Greek origin.

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to wind, turn."

It might form all or part of: anastrophe; antistrophe; apostrophe (n.1); apostrophe (n.2); boustrophedon; catastrophe; epistrophe; strabismus; strap; strep; strepto-; streptococcus; streptomycin; strobe; strobic; stroboscope; strop; strophe; strophic.

It might also be the source of: Greek strophe "stanza," originally "a turning," strephein "to turn," strophaligs "whirl, whirlwind," streblos "twisted," stremma "that which is twisted."