Where does “firebomb” come from?
firebomb (English) comes from English fire, from Middle English fier, from Old English fȳr, from Old English feor, from Proto-Germanic ferrai, from Proto-Indo-European per-nóy, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.
firebomb (English): A weapon that causes fire, an incendiary weapon;...
Definitions
- A weapon that causes fire, an incendiary weapon;...
Ancestry of “firebomb”, step by step
firebomb traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English fire
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | fire | A chemical reaction involving the bonding of... |
| 2 | Middle English | fier | Alternative form of figer |
| 3 | Old English | fȳr | fire |
| 4 | Old English | feor | Alternative form of feorr; far |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | ferrai | far, distant |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | per-nóy | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |
via English bomb
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | bomb | An explosive device used or intended as a weapon;... |
| 2 | French | bombé | rounded, convex; past participle of bomber |
| 3 | Italian | bomba | bomb |
| 4 | Italian | bombo | bumblebee; buzzing |
| 5 | Latin | bombus | A buzz or humming sound |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | βόμβος | any deep, hollow sound, humming, buzzing,... |