Where does “clapweed” come from?

clapweed (English) comes from English clap, from Old French clapoir, from Old French clapier, from Old Occitan clapier, from Old Occitan clap, from Medieval Latin claperius.

clapweed (English): A shrubby plant of species Ephedra antisyphilitica

Definitions

  1. A shrubby plant of species Ephedra antisyphilitica

Ancestry of “clapweed”, step by step

clapweed traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English clap

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishclapThe act of striking the palms of the hands, or...
2Old Frenchclapoirbubo, inflammation from infection
3Old Frenchclapierbrothel
4Old Occitanclapierrabbit hutch
5Old Occitanclapheap of stones
6Medieval Latinclaperius

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 Medieval Latin claperius
clapweed — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer