Where does “powder” come from?

powder (Middle English) comes from Middle English poudre, from Old French poudre, from Late Latin pulvera, from Latin pulvis, from Proto-Indo-European pel- — to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold.

powder (Middle English): Alternative form of poudre; Alternative form of...

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of poudre; Alternative form of...

Ancestry of “powder”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishpoudrepowder; The results of the decomposition of one's...
2Old Frenchpoudrepowder; dust
3Late Latinpulvera—
4Latinpulvisdust, powder; an arena, place of contest
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpel-to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pel- →Every word from Latin pulvis →Every word from Late Latin pulvera →