Where does “birdweed” come from?

birdweed (English) comes from English weed, from Middle English weed, from Old English wēod, from Proto-West Germanic *weud — weed (unwanted plant).

birdweed (English): Any of certain species of plants of the genus Polygonum, especially

Definitions

  1. Any of certain species of plants of the genus Polygonum, especially

Ancestry of “birdweed”, step by step

birdweed traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English weed

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishweedAny plant regarded as unwanted at the place...
2Middle Englishweed—
3Old Englishwēodweed
4Proto-West Germanic*weudweed (unwanted plant)

via English bird

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbirdA member of the class of animals Aves in the...
2Middle Englishbrida young bird, a bird in general; Alternative form...
3Old Englishbriddyoung bird, chick; chicken
Every word from Proto-West Germanic *weud →
birdweed — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer