Etymology Explorer › Afrikaans

Where does “bos” come from?

bos (Afrikaans) comes from Dutch bos, from Middle Dutch bosch, from Old Dutch busc, from Proto-Germanic buskaz, from Proto-Indo-European bʰuH- — to become, grow, appear.

bos (Afrikaans): wood, forest; bush, shrub; bunch, bundle, sheaf,...

Definitions

  1. wood, forest; bush, shrub; bunch, bundle, sheaf,...

Ancestry of “bos”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchboswood, forest; bouquet, cluster, bunch
2Middle Dutchboschforest, wood
3Old Dutchbuscbush
4Proto-Germanicbuskazbush; thicket
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanbʰuH-to become, grow, appear

Words derived from “bos”

  • rooibos
  • bosberaad
  • ysterbos
  • Rooibos
  • rooibos
  • ysterbos
  • bosvark
  • rooibos
  • bosbewaring
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰuH- →