Where does “burweed” come from?

burweed (English) comes from English bur, from Middle English burre, from Old English byrst, from Proto-Germanic brestuz, from Proto-Indo-European bʰres‑ — to burst; break; crack; crackle.

burweed (English): Alternative form of burrweed

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of burrweed

Ancestry of “burweed”, step by step

burweed traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English bur

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishburA rough, prickly husk around the seeds or fruit...
2Middle Englishburre—
3Old Englishbyrstbristle; loss, defect, failure; injury
4Proto-Germanicbrestuzbreak; fracture; impairment; handicap
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰres‑to burst; break; crack; crackle

via English weed

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishweedAny plant regarded as unwanted at the place...
2Middle Englishweed—
3Old Englishwēodweed
4Proto-West Germanic*weudweed (unwanted plant)
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰres‑ →
burweed — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer