English

letterleaf

From letter + leaf, from the fancied letter-like markings on leaves.

A compound of letter + leaf

Latin littera ‘letter of the alphabet; (plural) epistle’

Old French letre

Middle English letter

Proto-Germanic *laubą

Proto-West Germanic *laub

Old English lēaf

Middle English lef ‘Foliage’

English leaf

Today it means

noun Any of certain orchids: of species of the genus Grammatophyllum.

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

Etymograph / letterleaf