Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “comb” come from?

comb (Middle English) comes from Old English cumb, from Proto-Germanic kumbaz — bowl, vessel; vat, tub.

comb (Middle English): A comb; An instrument similar to a comb used for...

Definitions

  1. A comb; An instrument similar to a comb used for...

Ancestry of “comb”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishcumba hollow, narrow valley, combe; a measure of...
2Proto-Germanickumbazbowl, vessel; vat, tub

Words derived from “comb”

  • coming
  • forthcoming
  • comb
  • upcoming
  • oncoming
  • combing
  • shortcoming
  • currycomb
  • coaming
  • cockscomb
  • unforthcoming
  • outcoming
  • coomb
  • comblike
  • recomb
  • combover
  • uncombable
  • combless
  • backcomb
  • combability
  • forthcomingness
  • combeth
  • combable
  • forthcomingly
Every word from Proto-Germanic kumbaz →