Where does “willow” come from?
Willow comes from Middle English wilwe and wilghe, from Old English weliġ, from Proto-West Germanic wilig, from Proto-Germanic wiligaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European wel-.
willow (English): Any of various deciduous trees or shrubs in the...
Definitions
- Any of various deciduous trees or shrubs in the...
Ancestry of “willow”, step by step
willow traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English welew
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | welew | — |
| 2 | Middle English | wilghe | — |
| 3 | Old English | weliġ | well-to-do, prosperous, rich; willow |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | wilig | willow |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | wiligaz | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | weliḱ- | willow |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wēl- | to see, perceive |
via Middle English wilwe
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | wilwe | willow |