Where does “ruby” come from?
ruby (Middle English) comes from Old French rubi, from Latin rubeus, from Latin ruber, from Proto-Italic ruðros, from Proto-Indo-European h₁rudʰrós, from Proto-Indo-European h₁rewdʰ- — red.
ruby (Middle English): Alternative form of robben
Definitions
- Alternative form of robben
Ancestry of “ruby”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | rubi | — |
| 2 | Latin | rubeus | red, reddish; of or pertaining to the bramble... |
| 3 | Latin | ruber | red approximately like red ochre (which had a traditional status among the Romans); red that was both common and dignified, somewhat associated with pigment |
| 4 | Proto-Italic | ruðros | red |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁rudʰrós | red |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁rewdʰ- | red |