Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “dove” come from?

dove (Middle English) comes from Middle English douve, from Old English dūfe, from Proto-Germanic dūbǭ, from Proto-Indo-European dʰewbʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂- — smoke; mist, haze.

dove (Middle English): Alternative form of douve

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of douve

Ancestry of “dove”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishdouveA dove, pigeon, or similar bird; An affectionate...
2Old Englishdūfedove, pigeon
3Proto-Germanicdūbǭdove, pigeon
4Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewbʰ-deep
5Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewh₂-smoke; mist, haze

Words derived from “dove”

  • dove
  • dovetail
  • dovecote
  • dovecot
  • dovish
  • dovelike
  • ringdove
  • stockdove
  • dovekie
  • dovelet
  • dovishness
  • doveling
  • dovetailer
  • cuckoo-dove
  • quail-dove
  • doveplum
  • doveship
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂- →