Where does “gem” come from?
Gem comes from Middle English gemme, from Old English ġimm, from Old French gemme, from Latin gemma meaning a precious stone or jewel.
gem (English): A precious stone, usually of substantial monetary...
Definitions
- A precious stone, usually of substantial monetary...
Ancestry of “gem”, step by step
gem traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English gemme
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | gemme | — |
| 2 | Old English | ġimm | gem |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | gimmu | gem |
| 4 | Latin | gemma | A bud or eye of a plant; A gem, gemstone, jewel,... |
via English Gem State
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Gem State | — |