Where does “Indian feather moss” come from?

Indian feather moss (English) comes from English feather, from German feder, from Middle High German vëdere, from Old High German fedara, from Proto-West Germanic feþru, from Proto-Germanic feþrō, from Proto-Indo-European péth₂r̥, from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- — to spread out; to fly.

Indian feather moss (English): moss of the species Timmia megapolitana

Definitions

  1. moss of the species Timmia megapolitana

Ancestry of “Indian feather moss”, step by step

Indian feather moss traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via English feather

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfeatherA branching, hair-like structure that grows on...
2Germanfederfeather
3Middle High Germanvëderefeather
4Old High Germanfedarafeather
5Proto-West Germanicfeþrufeather
6Proto-Germanicfeþrōfeather
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpéth₂r̥wing; feather
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpeth₂-to spread out; to fly

via English moss

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmossAny of various small, green, seedless plants...
2Middle Englishmosmush, pulp, porridge
3Old Englishmosmoss; food, nourishment, victuals
4Proto-Germanic*mōs
5Proto-Germanicmōsąwet food, mush, porridge; food, victuals
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmeh₂d-to be wet, to become wet; to meet, approach,...

via English indian

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishindianOf or relating to India or its people; or (formerly) of the East Indies
2Middle EnglishIndien
3Anglo-NormanindienIndian
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peth₂-Every word from Proto-Indo-European péth₂r̥Every word from Proto-Germanic feþrō