edelweiss

Where does the word "edelweiss" come from? It comes from German edili, passing through German before entering English (1862).

Edelweiss’s story begins in German: edili meant “noble.” Old High German word for noble, combined later with the word for white. Within German, it grew into Edelweiß by 1800s. Compound of 'edel' (noble) and 'weiß' (white), naming the alpine flower. It reached English by 1862 as edelweiss. Adopted whole into English for the same Alpine flower. Today, edelweiss means a small white-flowered alpine plant, a symbol of the Alps.

1. Stage 1 · German · medieval edili "noble", Old High German word for noble, combined later with the word for white.
2. Stage 2 · German · 1800s Edelweiß "noble white; the alpine flower", compound of 'edel' (noble) and 'weiß' (white), naming the alpine flower.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1862 edelweiss "a small white-flowered alpine plant", adopted whole into English for the same Alpine flower.