Where does “beau” come from?
beau (Middle English) comes from Old French bel, from Latin bellus, from Latin villus, from Latin vellus, from Proto-Indo-European h₂welh₁- — to rule; strong, powerful; hair; wool.
beau (Middle English): good, fine
Definitions
- good, fine
Ancestry of “beau”, step by step
beau traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Old French bel
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | bel | Alternative form of biau; good, pretty |
| 2 | Latin | bellus | beautiful, pretty, handsome; pleasant, agreeable,... |
| 3 | Latin | villus | hair, tuft of hair, shaggy hair |
| 4 | Latin | vellus | The wool shorn from a sheep; fleece; wool; The... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂welh₁- | to rule; strong, powerful; hair; wool |
via Old French beau
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | beau | Alternative form of biau; fair |