Where does “rooibos” come from?

rooibos (Dutch) comes from Afrikaans rooibos, from Afrikaans rooi, from Dutch rooi, from Middle English roye, from Old French roie, from Vulgar Latin riga, from Gaulish rica, from Proto-Celtic ɸrikā — passed , crossed.

rooibos (Dutch): rooibos plant; rooibos tea

Definitions

  1. rooibos plant; rooibos tea

Ancestry of “rooibos”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Afrikaansrooibosrooibos (plant)
2Afrikaansrooired
3DutchrooiAlternative form of rood
4Middle Englishroye
5Old Frenchroie
6Vulgar Latinrigasecond-person singular present active imperative...
7Gaulishricafurrow
8Proto-Celticɸrikāfurrow
9Proto-Indo-Europeanperḱ-colored; motley; to open, rip up
10Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
11Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós