Etymology Explorer › Italian

Where does “furbo” come from?

furbo (Italian) comes from French fourbe, from French fourbir, from Middle French fourbir, from Old French forbir, from Frankish furbēn, from Proto-Indo-European prep- — to appear, to be visible.

furbo (Italian): astute, cunning, sly, wily, crafty; smart...

Definitions

  1. astute, cunning, sly, wily, crafty; smart...

Ancestry of “furbo”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchfourbeguile, deception; double-dealer, swindler;...
2Frenchfourbirto furbish, burnish
3Middle Frenchfourbir—
4Old Frenchforbirto clean; to polish
5Frankishfurbēnto clean, polish; to clean
6Proto-Indo-Europeanprep-to appear, to be visible

Words derived from “furbo”

  • furbastro
  • furbacchiotto
  • furbamente
  • furberia
  • furbesco
  • furbizia
Every word from Proto-Indo-European prep- →