English

flame tree

flame + tree, from the fiery colour of the flowers.

A compound of flame + tree

Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- ‘to shimmer, gleam, shine’

Proto-Italic *flagmā

Latin flamma

Anglo-Norman flaumbe

Middle English flawme ‘a flame’

English flame

Proto-Indo-European *dóru

Proto-Germanic *trewą

Proto-West Germanic *treu

Old English trēo ‘tree’

Middle English trau

English tree

Today it means

noun Any tree or shrub with yellow or bright red flowers from several species including

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

Etymograph / flame tree