Where does “greenhouse” come from?
Greenhouse combines English green and house, which derives from Middle English hus from Proto-Germanic hūsą, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to cover or enclose.
greenhouse (English): A building used to grow plants, particularly one...
Definitions
- A building used to grow plants, particularly one...
Ancestry of “greenhouse”, step by step
greenhouse traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Green
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Green | Of, or pertaining, to a Green Party or green... |
| 2 | Middle English | grene | green |
| 3 | Old English | grēne | green |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | grōnī | green |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | grōniz | green |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰreh₁- | to become green, grow; to grow; to green, to grow |
via English House
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | House | A particular chamber of political representation |
| 2 | Middle English | hous | house, residence; house of worship, temple;... |
| 3 | Old English | hūs | dwelling, shelter, house; house |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | hūs | house |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | hūsą | house |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)kewH- | to cover, bedeck; cover |