Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “leafbird” come from?

leafbird (English) comes from English leaf, from Old English Leofa, from Old English lēof, from West Germanic *leub, from Proto-Germanic leubaz, from Proto-Indo-European lewbʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European lēw- — to sound, resound, sing out; to leave.

leafbird (English): A small passerine bird of the genus "Chloropsis",...

Definitions

  1. A small passerine bird of the genus "Chloropsis",...

Ancestry of “leafbird”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishleafThe usually green and flat organ that represents...
2Old EnglishLeofa—
3Old Englishlēoflief, dear
4West Germanic*leub—
5Proto-Germanicleubazdear, beloved
6Proto-Indo-Europeanlewbʰ-to desire, covet, want; to admire, praise; to...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanlēw-to sound, resound, sing out; to leave
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lēw- →