bud
/bʌd/
noun
Origin
Middle English
budde — a sprout or shoot
Overview
Meaning Now
- a small lateral or terminal protuberance on the stem of a plant that may develop into a flower, leaf, or branch
- a small, bulb-like projection or structure, such as a taste bud
Literal older meaning
a shoot or sprout
Language path
Middle English → Middle French → English
Earliest form
budde
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The term likely emerged from a Germanic source suggesting a 'swelling' or 'protrusion,' reflecting the visual transformation of a plant as it begins to develop. It remains a standard botanical term used since the late Middle Ages.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*bud-
“to swell or sprout”
Reconstructed root
- Middle English
budde
“a sprout or flower bud”
- Modern English
bud
“a plant bud or small outgrowth”
Connections
Word parts
bud
root
sprout or small growth
Related across languages
Middle Low German
budde
a swelling or insect larva
Dutch
bot
bud or sprout
Explore next
Related to bud
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.