Where does “brown” come from?
Brown comes from Middle English broun, from Old English brūn, from Proto-Germanic brūnaz, from Proto-Indo-European bʰerH- and bʰrewe-, roots associated with burning or brightness.
brown (English): A colour like that of chocolate or coffee; One of...
Definitions
- A colour like that of chocolate or coffee; One of...
Ancestry of “brown”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | broun | dark, dull, murky; brown; brown-haired |
| 2 | Old English | Brūn | brown |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | brūnaz | brown |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰerH- | to pierce; to strike; brown |
Words derived from “brown”