Where does “sandbur” come from?

sandbur (English) comes from English sand, from Middle English sond, from Old English sand, from Norwegian Nynorsk samd, from Proto-Germanic samdaz, from Proto-Indo-European sámh₂dʰos, from Proto-Indo-European sem- — together, one.

sandbur (English): Any of several grasses, of the genus "Cenchrus",...

Definitions

  1. Any of several grasses, of the genus "Cenchrus",...

Ancestry of “sandbur”, step by step

sandbur traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English sand

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsandRock that is ground more finely than gravel, but...
2Middle EnglishsondAlternative form of sand
3Old Englishsandaction of sending, embassy, mission, deputation;...
4Norwegian Nynorsksamdin agreement
5Proto-Germanicsamdazsand
6Proto-Indo-Europeansámh₂dʰossand
7Proto-Indo-Europeansem-together, one

via English bur

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishburA rough, prickly husk around the seeds or fruit...
2Middle Englishburre
3Old Englishbyrstbristle; loss, defect, failure; injury
4Proto-Germanicbrestuzbreak; fracture; impairment; handicap
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰres‑to burst; break; crack; crackle
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sem-
sandbur — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer