Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “silver” come from?

Silver comes from Old English seolfor, from Proto-Germanic silubrą, a word of uncertain origin and meaning.

silver (English): A lustrous, white, metallic element, atomic...

Definitions

  1. A lustrous, white, metallic element, atomic...

Ancestry of “silver”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishsilversilver
2Old Englishseolforsilver
3Proto-West Germanic*silubr—
4Proto-Germanicsilubrąsilver

Words derived from “silver”

  • silvery
  • silverware
  • silverback
  • silverfish
  • silverwork
  • silversmithing
  • silverside
  • silverly
  • silversides
  • silverpoint
  • silverweed
  • silvertip
  • silverbeet
  • silveriness
  • nanosilver
  • silversword
  • silverskin
  • silverish
  • desilverization
  • nonsilver
  • silverberry
  • silverbell
  • silverspot
  • silverness
Every word from Proto-Germanic silubrą →