bracken

bracken · noun¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*bʰreg-“to break”
2. Proto-Germanic · derived from*brekaną
3. Old Norse · derived from*brakni“undergrowth”
4. Middle English · inherited frombraken
5. English todaybracken

From Middle English braken, probably of Scandinavian/North Germanic origin, from Old Norse *brakni (“undergrowth”), related to Proto-Germanic *brekaną and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰreg- (“to break”). Cognates include Danish bregne and Swedish bräken (“fern”).

Bracken · proper noun²

1. Middle Low German · derived frombraak“fallow”
2. Middle English · derived frombracken“fern”
3. English todayBracken

* As an Irish surname, from Ó Breacáin (“descendant of Breacán”), from Breacán, a name diminutive of breac (“spotted”) * As an English surname, from Middle English bracken (“fern”) * As an English habitational surname, from Bracon Ash in Norfolk, Bracken in Yorkshire * As a German surname, from Middle Low German braak (“fallow”) Also compare Brackeen.

Words from the same roots