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”

browning
brownie
brownout

Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰerH- →Every word from Proto-Germanic brūnaz →Every word from Old English Brūn →