Where does “rainbow” come from?
Rainbow comes from Middle English reinbowe, from Old English reġnboga, from Proto-Germanic regnabugô, ultimately combining Proto-Germanic bugô and Proto-Indo-European roots reǵ- and bʰewgʰ-.
rainbow (English): A multicoloured arch in the sky, produced by...
Definitions
- A multicoloured arch in the sky, produced by...
Ancestry of “rainbow”, step by step
rainbow traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via German Regenbogen
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | Regenbogen | rainbow |
| 2 | Middle High German | rëgenboge | — |
| 3 | Old High German | reginbogo | rainbow |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | regnabugô | rainbow |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | bugô | bow |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰugʰ- | bow; arch |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰewgʰ- | to bend; curve, arch |
via Old French Rainbaut
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | Rainbaut | — |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | Raginabalþaz | — |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | raginą | decision, advice, counsel |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | Hrokéno- | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | Hrok- | — |