Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “culm” come from?

culm (English) comes from Latin culmus, from Proto-Indo-European ḱolh₂mos, from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₂- — to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab.

culm (English): waste coal, used as a poor quality fuel; slack;...

Definitions

  1. waste coal, used as a poor quality fuel; slack;...

Ancestry of “culm”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinculmusstalk, stem; hay; straw
2Proto-Indo-Europeanḱolh₂mosstalk
3Proto-Indo-Europeanḱelh₂-to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab

Words derived from “culm”

  • culmiferous
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₂- →