Where does “feathermoss” come from?
feathermoss (English) comes from English feather, from German feder, from Middle High German vëdere, from Old High German fedara, from Proto-West Germanic feþru, from Proto-Germanic feþrō, from Proto-Indo-European péth₂r̥, from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- — to spread out; to fly.
feathermoss (English): A species of moss common in boreal forests,...
Definitions
- A species of moss common in boreal forests,...
Ancestry of “feathermoss”, step by step
feathermoss traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English feather
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | feather | A branching, hair-like structure that grows on... |
| 2 | German | feder | feather |
| 3 | Middle High German | vëdere | feather |
| 4 | Old High German | fedara | feather |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | feþru | feather |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | feþrō | feather |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | péth₂r̥ | wing; feather |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | peth₂- | to spread out; to fly |
via English moss
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | moss | Any of various small, green, seedless plants... |
| 2 | Middle English | mos | mush, pulp, porridge |
| 3 | Old English | mos | moss; food, nourishment, victuals |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | *mōs | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | mōsą | wet food, mush, porridge; food, victuals |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | meh₂d- | to be wet, to become wet; to meet, approach,... |