Where does “midrib” come from?
Midrib comes from Middle English midribbe, combining mid- and rib, with rib descending from Old English ribb, Proto-West Germanic ribi, Proto-Germanic ribjō, and Proto-Indo-European h₁rebʰ-.
midrib (English): The strengthened vein down the middle of a flower...
Definitions
- The strengthened vein down the middle of a flower...
Ancestry of “midrib”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | RIB | Rigid inflatable boat — A lightweight inflatable... |
| 2 | Middle English | rib | — |
| 3 | Old English | ribb | rib |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | ribb | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | ribją | rib; reef, ridge |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁rebʰ- | to cover, to roof; rib |