Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “oakmoss” come from?

oakmoss (English) comes from English moss, from Middle English mos, from Old English mos, from Proto-Germanic *mōs, from Proto-Germanic mōsą, from Proto-Indo-European meh₂d- — to be wet, to become wet; to meet, approach,...

oakmoss (English): Evernia prunastri, a lichen found primarily on...

Definitions

  1. Evernia prunastri, a lichen found primarily on...

Ancestry of “oakmoss”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmossAny of various small, green, seedless plants...
2Middle Englishmosmush, pulp, porridge
3Old Englishmosmoss; food, nourishment, victuals
4Proto-Germanic*mōs—
5Proto-Germanicmōsąwet food, mush, porridge; food, victuals
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmeh₂d-to be wet, to become wet; to meet, approach,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European meh₂d- →