Where does “rubi” come from?
rubi (Old French) comes from Latin rubeus, from Latin ruber, from Proto-Italic ruðros, from Proto-Indo-European h₁rudʰrós, from Proto-Indo-European h₁rewdʰ- — red.
Ancestry of “rubi”, step by step
rubi traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Latin rubeus
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | rubeus | red, reddish; of or pertaining to the bramble... |
| 2 | 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 |
| 3 | Proto-Italic | ruðros | red |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁rudʰrós | red |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁rewdʰ- | red |
via Medieval Latin rubinus
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medieval Latin | rubinus | ruby, carbuncle; carbuncle, ruby |