osier

Where does the word "osier" come from? It comes from Greek oisuē, passing through Medieval Latin and Old French before entering English (1300s).

Osier’s story begins in Greek: oisuē meant “willow.” A willow. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Medieval Latin as osiera. A willow; Latin borrowed the word from Greek or Gaulish. From there it passed into Old French as osier by medieval. A willow grown for baskets. It reached English by 1300s as osier. Osier beds along English rivers supplied the basket trade. Today, osier means a willow whose flexible shoots are used in basketry.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient oisuē "willow", a willow.
2. Stage 2 · Medieval Latin · medieval osiera "willow", a willow; Latin borrowed the word from Greek or Gaulish.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval osier "willow", a willow grown for baskets.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s osier "willow", osier beds along English rivers supplied the basket trade.