Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “rottenstone” come from?

rottenstone (English) comes from English rotten, from Middle English roten, from Middle English rote, from Old French rote, from Latin rupta, from Latin ruptus, from Latin rumpō, from Proto-Indo-European Hrunépti — to tear out, dig out, open, acquire.

rottenstone (English): A soft, friable limestone, used in polishes; To...

Definitions

  1. A soft, friable limestone, used in polishes; To...

Ancestry of “rottenstone”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishrottenOf perishable items, overridden with bacteria and...
2Middle Englishrotenplural of rote; To decompose ; to become rotten...
3Middle EnglishroteThe root; The foundation or base of a...
4Old Frenchroterote
5Latinruptanominative feminine singular of ruptus;...
6Latinruptusbroken; ruptured, burst
7Latinrumpō—
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrunéptito be breaking
9Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrewp-to break, tear
10Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrew-to tear out, dig out, open, acquire
Every word from Proto-Indo-European Hrew- →