English
Roseau
Roseau comes from French roseau ‘reed’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *er- ‘to move, excite, grow’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*er-‘to move, excite, grow’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*rausą‘pipe, reed, shaft, tube’reconstructed
- Frankishc. 250–700*rausa‘reed’reconstructed
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400ros‘reed, tooth of a weaver's comb’
- Old French, derivedc. 842–1400rosel‘reed’derivative of ros
- Frenchc. 1600–presentroseau‘reed’
- EnglishtodayRoseau
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*er-‘to move, excite, grow’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*rausą‘pipe, reed, shaft, tube’reconstructed
- Frankishc. 250–700*rausa‘reed’reconstructed
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400ros‘reed, tooth of a weaver's comb’
- Old French, derivedc. 842–1400rosel‘reed’derivative of ros
- Frenchc. 1600–presentroseau‘reed’
- EnglishtodayRoseau
The story
From French roseau (‘reed’), originally named by French explorers for the river reeds found there.
Linked words
through Old French ros ‘reed, tooth of a weaver's comb’
Today it means
name The capital city of Dominica.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *er- / Roseau