Where does “ferny” come from?
ferny (English) comes from Middle English fern, from Old English fearn, from Proto-West Germanic farn, from Proto-Indo-European pornóm, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.
ferny (English): Of, or pertaining to ferns; Resembling or...
Definitions
- Of, or pertaining to ferns; Resembling or...
Ancestry of “ferny”, step by step
ferny traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English fern
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | fern | fern plant of the division |
| 2 | Old English | fearn | fern |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | farn | fern |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | pornóm | feather, wing; fern, leaf |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |