Where does “underbrush” come from?
Underbrush comes from Middle English under- combined with Old English under- from Proto-Germanic under, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European n̥dʰér, joined with Proto-Indo-European bʰr̥stís from bʰers-, meaning to bristle or project outward.
underbrush (English): The small trees and other plants that clutter the...
Definitions
- The small trees and other plants that clutter the...
Ancestry of “underbrush”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Brush | An implement consisting of multiple more or less flexible bristles or other filaments attached to a handle, used for any of various purposes including cleaning, painting, and arranging hair |
| 2 | Middle English | brusshe | — |
| 3 | Old French | broisse | — |
| 4 | Vulgar Latin | brustia | — |
| 5 | Icelandic | bursti | brush |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | burstiz | bristle |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | bʰurstís | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰr̥s-tí-s | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰers- | top, tip, point |