An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. Biology: The usual major subdivision of a family or subfamily in the classification of organisms, usually consisting of more than one species.
   

2. Logic: A class or group of individuals, or of species of individuals.
   

3. A kind; sort; class (Dictionary.com).

Etymology (EN): From L. genus “race, stock, kind, gender;” cognate with Gk. genos “race, kind,” and gonos “birth, offspring, stock,” → generate.

Etymology (PE): Sardé, from Mid.Pers. sardag “sort, kind;” Av. sarrəδa- “kind, type.”