Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “rue” come from?

rue (Middle English) comes from Anglo-Norman ruwe, from Old French rue, from Latin rūga, from Proto-Indo-European krewp-, from Proto-Indo-European krew- — to fall, collapse; scab; to fall, break, bruise.

rue (Middle English): A kind of plant belonging to the genus "Ruta";...

Definitions

  1. A kind of plant belonging to the genus "Ruta";...

Ancestry of “rue”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Anglo-NormanruweAlternative form of rue
2Old Frenchruerue
3Latinrūga—
4Proto-Indo-Europeankrewp-scab, crust; to become encrusted
5Proto-Indo-Europeankrew-to fall, collapse; scab; to fall, break, bruise

Words derived from “rue”

  • ruwe
Every word from Proto-Indo-European krew- →