Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “rob” come from?

Rob comes from Middle English robben, from Old French rober, from Medieval Latin raubo, from Frankish raubōn, from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to snatch or seize.

rob (English): To steal from, especially using force or...

Definitions

  1. To steal from, especially using force or...

Ancestry of “rob”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishrobbenTo steal, rob, or pilfer; to illegally or...
2Anglo-Normanrobber—
3Old Frenchroberto rob; to steal
4Latinraubāre—
5Frankishraubōnto rob, plunder; to rob, to steal, to plunder
6Proto-Germanicraubōnąto rob, steal, plunder
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrewp-to break, tear
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrew-to tear out, dig out, open, acquire

Words derived from “rob”

  • robbeth
  • robbest
  • robbable
  • berob
  • robbe
Every word from Proto-Indo-European Hrew- →