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Edelweiss

3 stages from German to English.

Today it means a small white-flowered alpine plant, a symbol of the Alps

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

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