Where does “bur” come from?
Bur comes from English burl, from Proto-Germanic brestuz, from Proto-Indo-European bʰr̥stís, ultimately from the root bʰers-, meaning to bristle or stand on end.
bur (English): A rough, prickly husk around the seeds or fruit...
Definitions
- A rough, prickly husk around the seeds or fruit...
Ancestry of “bur”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | burre | — |
| 2 | Old English | byrst | bristle; loss, defect, failure; injury |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | brestuz | break; fracture; impairment; handicap |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰres‑ | to burst; break; crack; crackle |