Where does “besem” come from?
besem (Middle Dutch) comes from Old Dutch besemo, from Proto-West Germanic besmō, from Proto-Germanic besmô, from Proto-Indo-European bʰés-mō ~ bʰs-m̥nés, from Proto-Indo-European bʰes- — wind; to blow, chew, rub; to rub, grind.
Ancestry of “besem”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old Dutch | besemo | — |
| 2 | Proto-West Germanic | besmō | branch, rod; broom |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | besmô | — |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰés-mō ~ bʰs-m̥nés | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰes- | wind; to blow, chew, rub; to rub, grind |