Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “wintercress” come from?

wintercress (English) comes from English cress, from Middle English croys, from Old French crois, from Latin crux, from Proto-Italic *kruks, from Proto-Indo-European sḱer- — to caw, crow.

wintercress (English): Any of the genus "Barbarea" of small herbaceous...

Definitions

  1. Any of the genus "Barbarea" of small herbaceous...

Ancestry of “wintercress”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcressA plant of various species, chiefly cruciferous....
2Middle Englishcroys—
3Old Frenchcroiscross; crossroads
4Latincruxwooden frame on which criminals were crucified,...
5Proto-Italic*kruks—
6Proto-Indo-Europeansḱer-to caw, crow
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sḱer- →