English

puttyroot

From putty + root.

A compound of putty + root

French pot

French potée ‘polishing powder", originally "the contents…’

English putty

Proto-Indo-European *wréh₂ds ‘root’

Proto-Germanic *wrōts ‘root’

Old Norse rót ‘root’

Old English rōt ‘root’

Middle English rote ‘underground part of a plant’

English root

The story

First use appears c. 1822 in the writings of the botanist Amos Eaton.

noun An American orchid (Aplectrum hyemale) whose slender rootstock produces a solid corm filled with glutinous matter.

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

Etymograph / puttyroot