Where does “Barbados” come from?

Barbados (Dutch) comes from English Barbados, from Portuguese barbados, from Portuguese barba, from Old Portuguese barba, from Latin barba, from Latin farba, from Proto-Italic farβā, from Proto-Indo-European bʰardʰéh₂ — beard.

Ancestry of “Barbados”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishBarbadosTo press-gang
2Portuguesebarbadosmasculine plural of barbado; bearded ones
3Portuguesebarbabeard
4Old Portuguesebarba
5Latinbarbabeard; wool, down on a plant; Alternative form of...
6Latinfarba
7Proto-Italicfarβābeard
8Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰardʰéh₂beard
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰardʰéh₂