English
fluff
Fluff comes from West Flemish vluwe, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂welh₁-root as named · steps between not traced
- West Flemishmodernvluwe
- Englishearliest quotation 1872fluff
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂welh₁-root as named · steps between not traced
- West Flemishmodernvluwe
- Englishearliest quotation 1872fluff
Earliest quotation: 1872, Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.: “She gave the music-stool a twirl or two and…”
The story
For words of similar sound and meaning in other languages, compare Japanese フワフワ (fuwafuwa, “lightly, softly”), Hungarian puha (‘soft, fluffy’), Polish puchaty (‘soft, fluffy’), Romanian puf (‘down, peachfuzz, soft hair of some animals, powderpuff’).
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁-
value, wild, equivalent, valid, wool, velvet, vale, avail, valuation, valiant, wield, vail, flannel, valour, cuckold, velour, lanolin, valorous, woll, 44 more
Today it means
noun Anything light, soft or fuzzy, especially fur, hair, feathers.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁- / fluff