Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “pearl grass” come from?

pearl grass (English) comes from English Pearl, from Middle English perle, from Old French perle, from Medieval Latin perla, from Latin perna, from Proto-Italic persnā, from Proto-Indo-European tpḗrsneh₂, from Proto-Indo-European sperH- — to kick.

pearl grass (English): Briza media, a variety of grass; Oldenlandia...

Definitions

  1. Briza media, a variety of grass; Oldenlandia...

Ancestry of “pearl grass”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishPearl—
2Middle EnglishperleA pearl; Any round object, especially when shiny;...
3Old Frenchperle—
4Medieval Latinperla—
5LatinpernaA haunch or ham together with the leg, gammon; A...
6Proto-Italicpersnā—
7Proto-Indo-Europeantpḗrsneh₂heel, upper thigh
8Proto-Indo-EuropeansperH-to kick
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sperH- →