- spelunk (n.)
- "a cave, cavern, a vault," c. 1300, from Old French spelonque (13c.) or directly from Latin spelunca "a cave, cavern, grotto," from Greek spelynx (accusative spelynga, genitive spelyngos) "a cave, cavern," from spelos "a cave." An adjective, speluncar "of a cave" is recorded from 1855.
- spelunking
- "The exploration of caves, especially as a hobby", 1940s: from obsolete spelunk 'cave' (from Latin spelunca) + -ing1.