Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “blossom” come from?

Blossom comes from Middle English blosme, Old English blōstma, and Proto-Germanic blōsmaz, which derive from the Proto-Indo-European root bʰleh₃- meaning to bloom or flourish.

blossom (English): A flower, especially one indicating that a fruit...

Definitions

  1. A flower, especially one indicating that a fruit...

Ancestry of “blossom”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishblosmeA flower or blossom; An outstanding or...
2Old Englishblōstma—
3Proto-GermanicblōsmazAlternative form of *blōstmô
4Proto-Germanicblōstazblossoming
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰleh₃-s-bloom, flower
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰleh₃-bloom, flower
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰel-to sound; to speak, roar, bark; shiny, white; to...
8Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰōl-—

Words derived from “blossom”

  • blossoms
  • Blossom
  • blossomless
  • blossometh
  • mayblossom
  • reblossom
  • blossomest
  • emblossom
  • blossomly
  • blossomish
  • orange blossom
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰōl- →