English
ferrous
Ferrous comes from Latin ferreus ‘iron, made of iron’, and goes back to Old Latin *fersom.
- Old Latinc. 700–75 BCE*fersomreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEferrum‘iron’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEferreus‘iron, made of iron’by way of French ferreux
- Englishtodayferrous
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Old Latinc. 700–75 BCE*fersomreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEferrum‘iron’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEferreus‘iron, made of iron’by way of French ferreux
- Englishtodayferrous
Linked words
through Latin ferrum ‘iron’
Today it means
adj Of or containing iron.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old Latin *fersom / ferrous