Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “ragweed” come from?

Ragweed comes from English ragged and English weed, with ragged from Middle English ragged, Old Norse raggaðr, and ultimately Proto-Indo-European weǵʰ-.

ragweed (English): A plant of the genus "Ambrosia". These weeds are...

Definitions

  1. A plant of the genus "Ambrosia". These weeds are...

Ancestry of “ragweed”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishragwortAny of a number of wild flowering plants with...
2EnglishwortA plant; herb; vegetable; Any of various plants...
3Middle EnglishwortA plant; Wort or an analogous mixture
4Old Englishwyrtplant; herb; wort
5Old Englishbisċopbishop
6Latinepiscopusan overseer, supervisor, bishop in a Christian...
7Ancient Greekἐπίσκοποςwatcher, guardian; scout, watch; overseer,...
8Ancient GreekἐπισκοπέωI watch over
9Ancient Greekἐπι-on, upon, on top of, all over, covering; on,...
10Ancient Greekἐπίas well, besides; For usage in composition, see...
11Ancient GreekἩμέρα—
12Ancient Greekἦμαρday; by day; midday
13Proto-Hellenicā́mər—
14Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eh₃mr̥heat
15Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eh₃-to be hot; to burn
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eh₃- →