Where does “downburst” come from?
downburst (English) comes from English burst, from Middle English bresten, from Old English berstan, from Proto-Germanic *brestan, from Proto-Germanic brestaną, from Proto-Indo-European bʰres‑ — to burst; break; crack; crackle.
downburst (English): A powerful downward air current, especially one...
Definitions
- A powerful downward air current, especially one...
Ancestry of “downburst”, step by step
downburst traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English burst
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | burst | To break from internal pressure; To cause to... |
| 2 | Middle English | bresten | To burst break from internal pressure |
| 3 | Old English | berstan | to break, shatter, burst |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | *brestan | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | brestaną | to burst, break, sunder, split, crack |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰres‑ | to burst; break; crack; crackle |