Where does “palmetto” come from?
Palmetto derives from Spanish palmito, the diminutive of Spanish palma, from Latin palma meaning palm tree or palm of the hand, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European pelh₂-.
palmetto (English): Any member of either of two closely related...
Definitions
- Any member of either of two closely related...
Ancestry of “palmetto”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spanish | palmito | heart of palm |
| 2 | Spanish | Palma | palm of the hand |
| 3 | Old Spanish | palma | — |
| 4 | Latin | palma | palm of the hand, hand; blade of an oar; palm... |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | pəlmā | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | pl̥h₂meh₂ | palm, hand |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | plh₂m- | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pelh₂- | to approach |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | pel- | to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold |