An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A part or an individual taken as exemplifying a whole mass or number; a typical animal, plant, mineral, part, etc. → sample.

Etymology (EN): From L. specimen “mark, example, indication, sign, evidence,” from speci- stem of specere “to look at,” → -scope,

• -men noun suffix denoting result or means.

Etymology (PE): Nemuné, from nemudan “to show;” Mid.Pers. nimūdan, nimây- “to show,” from O.Pers./Av. ni- “down; in, into,” → ni- (PIE), + māy- “to measure;” cf. Skt. mati “measures,” matra- “measure;”
Gk. metron “measure;” L. metrum; PIE base *me- “to measure.”