English
forb
Forb comes from Ancient Greek φορβή ‘food’, from φέρβω ‘to feed’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰergʷ-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰergʷ-reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEφέρβωphérbō‘to feed’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEφορβήphorbḗ‘food’
- Englishearliest quotation 2002forb
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰergʷ-reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEφέρβωphérbō‘to feed’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEφορβήphorbḗ‘food’
- Englishearliest quotation 2002forb
Earliest quotation: 2002, Dale F. Lott, American Bison: A Natural History: “So younger is better and the part nearest the…”
Every English word from Proto-Indo-European *bʰergʷ-
Today it means
noun Any nonwoody flowering plant that is not a graminoid (a grass, sedge, or rush).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *bʰergʷ- / forb