Proto-Indo-European

*plews-

‘to pull out, pluck’

Every word has its own definition in its root. These English words share one: Proto-Indo-European *plews-.

6 English words in this record descend from Proto-Indo-European *plews-, most familiar first.

• flea ← fle ← flēah ← *flauh ← *flauhaz
• fleece ← fles ← flēos ← *fleus ← *fleusaz
• puce ← flea-colored ← pūlex
• pulicine ← pulex
• pulicous ← pulicosus ← pulex
• pulicicide ← pulex

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *plews-