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Plum

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means an oval fleshy fruit with a flat stone; something highly desirable

Where does the word "plum" come from? It comes from Latin prunum, passing through Old English before entering English (1700s).

prunum→plume→plum

Latin · ancient

Greek 'prou(m)non' was itself likely borrowed from a language of Asia Minor

Old English · medieval

an early borrowing from Latin; the r became l, as it did in German 'Pflaume'

English · 1700s

"plum; something desirable"

'a plum job' comes from plums being the choice bits in a pudding

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Plum’s story begins in Latin: prunum meant “plum.” Greek 'prou(m)non' was itself likely borrowed from a language of Asia Minor. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old English as plume. An early borrowing from Latin; the r became l, as it did in German 'Pflaume'. It reached English by 1700s as plum. 'a plum job' comes from plums being the choice bits in a pudding. Today, plum means an oval fleshy fruit with a flat stone; something highly desirable.