The word "translucent" refers to a material that allows light to pass through, but scatters it in such a way that objects on the other side are not clearly visible. This means that while you can see some light coming through, you can’t see through it with complete clarity, like you would with clear glass. Translucent materials can be helpful for both privacy and aesthetics in several applications.
The word "translucent" comes from the Latin word "translucentem," which is the present participle of "translucere," meaning "to shine through." "Trans-" means "across" or "through," and "lucere" means "to shine."