Where does “ploughstaff” come from?
ploughstaff (English) comes from English Plough, from Middle English plouh, from Old English plōh, from Old Frisian plōg, from Proto-Germanic plōgaz, from Proto-Celtic ɸlowyos, from Proto-Indo-European plówyos, from Proto-Indo-European plew- — to fly, flow, run.
ploughstaff (English): The hind part or handle of a plough
Definitions
- The hind part or handle of a plough
Ancestry of “ploughstaff”, step by step
ploughstaff traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Plough
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Plough | The brightest seven stars of the constellation Ursa Major. They are Alkaid, Mizar, Alioth, Megrez, Dubhe, Merak, and Phecda |
| 2 | Middle English | plouh | — |
| 3 | Old English | plōh | hide of land, ploughland |
| 4 | Old Frisian | plōg | troop, common interest |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | plōgaz | plough |
| 6 | Proto-Celtic | ɸlowyos | rudder |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | plówyos | ship |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | plew- | to fly, flow, run |
via English staff
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | staff | A long, straight, thick wooden rod or stick,... |
| 2 | Middle English | staf | A staff, rod or pole; a relatively long, narrow,... |
| 3 | Old English | stæf | staff; letter, written character |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | stab | staff; letter |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | stabaz | staff, stick |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | stebʰ- | to stand still; to harden |