Where does “mildew” come from?

Mildew comes from Middle English mildewe, from Old English meledeaw, from Proto-Germanic milidawwaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂- meaning to smoke or steam.

mildew (English): A growth of minute powdery or webby fungi,...

Definitions

  1. A growth of minute powdery or webby fungi,...

Ancestry of “mildew”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishmyldewmildew fungal growth
2Old Englishmeledēawhoneydew, nectar
3Proto-West Germanic*milidauwmildew

Words derived from “mildew

Every word from Proto-West Germanic *milidauw
mildew — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer