Where does “rib” come from?

rib (Middle English) comes from Old English ribb, from Proto-West Germanic ribb, from Proto-Germanic ribją, from Proto-Indo-European h₁rebʰ- — to cover, to roof; rib.

Ancestry of “rib”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishribbrib
2Proto-West Germanicribb
3Proto-Germanicribjąrib; reef, ridge
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁rebʰ-to cover, to roof; rib

Words derived from “rib

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁rebʰ-
rib — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer