Where does “beau” come from?
Beau comes from French beau, derived from Latin bellus, which traces to Proto-Indo-European deu- or dew-, roots meaning to be suitable or fitting.
beau (English): A man with a reputation for fine dress and...
Definitions
- A man with a reputation for fine dress and...
Ancestry of “beau”, step by step
beau traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via French beau
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | beau | handsome, fine, attractive; nice; fair |
| 2 | Middle French | beau | beautiful; handsome; attractive |
| 3 | Old French | beau | Alternative form of biau; fair |
| 4 | Latin | bellus | beautiful, pretty, handsome; pleasant, agreeable,... |
| 5 | Latin | villus | hair, tuft of hair, shaggy hair |
| 6 | Latin | vellus | The wool shorn from a sheep; fleece; wool; The... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂welh₁- | to rule; strong, powerful; hair; wool |