Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “sorrel” come from?

Sorrel derives from Middle English sorrel, from Old French sorel, from Middle French sor, from Latin super, from Proto-Indo-European sūr-, from Proto-Indo-European upo.

sorrel (English): Any of various plants with acidic leaves,...

Definitions

  1. Any of various plants with acidic leaves,...

Ancestry of “sorrel”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishsorelsorrel; wood sorrel; The leaves of either of...
2Old Frenchsorelsorrel
3Old Frenchsursour, biter
4Frankishsūracidic, sour; sour, acidic
5Proto-Germanicsūrazsour, acidic
6Proto-Indo-EuropeansuHróssour, salty, bitter

Words derived from “sorrel”

  • woodsorrel
Every word from Proto-Indo-European suHrós →