# mastocyte

> English word · Noun

## Definitions
1. mast cell

## Etymology
From German Mastzelle f, "feeding cell," coined in 1878 by immunologist Paul Ehrlich; "Mast" + Ancient Greek κύτος (kútos, “cell”). Not a cognate with the Ancient Greek root μαστός (mastós, “(human) breast”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/mastocyte