Etymology Map
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Wood

3 stages from Proto-Germanic to English.

Today it means the hard material of trees; an area of trees

Where does the word "wood" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic widuz, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
widuz
Proto-Germanic · ancient
"tree, wood"
related to Irish 'fid', tree
2
Stage 2 of 3
wudu
Old English · 700s-1000s
"forest, timber"
meant both a forest and timber; place names like Woodstock and Wootton record woodland settlements
3
Stage 3 of 3
wood
English · 1500s
"wood"
'knock on wood' is recorded from the early 1900s
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Read the full story

Wood’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: widuz meant “tree, wood.” Related to Irish 'fid', tree. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as wudu. Meant both a forest and timber; place names like Woodstock and Wootton record woodland settlements. It reached English by 1500s as wood. 'knock on wood' is recorded from the early 1900s. Today, wood means the hard material of trees; an area of trees.