Where does “embarras” come from?

embarras (French) comes from French barré, from Middle French barre, from Old French barre, from Vulgar Latin barra, from Frankish bara, from Proto-Germanic barō, from Proto-Indo-European bʰerH- — to pierce; to strike; brown.

embarras (French): embarrassment; obstacle, hindrance; lack of money

Definitions

  1. embarrassment; obstacle, hindrance; lack of money

Ancestry of “embarras”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchbarrépast participle of barrer; barred; bendy...
2Middle Frenchbarrebar
3Old Frenchbarrebar
4Vulgar Latinbarrabarrier
5Frankishbarabar, beam, barrier, fence
6Proto-Germanicbarōbeam, bar, barrier
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanbʰerH-to pierce; to strike; brown

Words derived from “embarras”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰerH- →Every word from Proto-Germanic barō →Every word from Frankish bara →