Etymograph

English

Flower

Flower comes from Middle English flo ‘arrow’, from Proto-Germanic *flainaz ‘hook, prong, speartip, ord’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pel- ‘to split, divide’.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)pel-‘to split, divide’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*pleyn-‘metal arrow, spear-head, hook’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*flainaz‘hook, prong, speartip, ord’reconstructed
  4. Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*flainreconstructed
  5. Old Englishc. 450–1150flān‘arrow’
  6. Old English, derivedc. 450–1150flā
  7. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500flo‘arrow’
  8. EnglishtodayFlower

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)pel-‘to split, divide’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*pleyn-‘metal arrow, spear-head, hook’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*flainaz‘hook, prong, speartip, ord’reconstructed
  4. Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*flainreconstructed
  5. Old Englishc. 450–1150flān‘arrow’
  6. Old English, derivedc. 450–1150flā
  7. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500flo‘arrow’
  8. EnglishtodayFlower

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *(s)pel- ‘to split, divide’

spell, spill, spoil, spool, 11 more

Today it means

name A surname.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *(s)pel- / Flower

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