Where does “ashwagandha” come from?

ashwagandha (English) comes from Sanskrit अश्वगन्धा, from Sanskrit अश्व, from Proto-Indo-Aryan Háśwas, from Proto-Indo-Iranian Háćwas, from Proto-Indo-European h₁éḱwos, from Proto-Indo-European h₁oh₁ḱu- — swift.

ashwagandha (English): "Withania somnifera", a stout shrub that produces...

Definitions

  1. "Withania somnifera", a stout shrub that produces...

Ancestry of “ashwagandha”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Sanskritअश्वगन्धाhorse’s smell
2Sanskritअश्वhorse, stallion; knight; the number "seven"
3Proto-Indo-AryanHáśwas—
4Proto-Indo-IranianHáćwashorse
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁éḱwosstallion, horse
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁oh₁ḱu-swift
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁oh₁ḱu- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁éḱwos →Every word from Proto-Indo-Iranian Háćwas →