olive

olive · noun, adjective¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*loiwom
2. Proto-Berber · derived from*wlw“wild olive”
3. Proto-Hellenic · derived from*elaíwā
4. Etruscan · derived from*𐌄𐌋𐌄𐌉𐌅𐌀
5. Latin · derived fromolīva“olive”
6. Old French · derived fromolive“olive, olive tree”
7. Middle English · inherited fromolyve
8. English todayolive

From Middle English olyve, from Old French olive (“olive, olive tree”), from Latin olīva (“olive”), itself from either Etruscan *𐌄𐌋𐌄𐌉𐌅𐌀 (*eleiva), Proto-Hellenic *elaíwā (compare Mycenaean Greek 𐀁𐀨𐀷 (e-ra-wa), Ancient Greek ἐλαίᾱ (elaíā)), or the same source as those two. In any case, ultimately from a Mediterranean Pre-Greek source, possibly Proto-Berber *wlw (“wild olive”). More questionably, maybe from Proto-Indo-European *loiwom (compare Old Church Slavonic лои (loi, “tallow”), Old Armenian եւղ (ewł, “oil”)). Doublet of oliva and oil. Displaced native Old English eleberġe, literally "oil berry."

Olive · proper noun²

1. Spanish · derived fromOliva
2. English todayOlive

Medieval form of the Latin saint's name Oliva "olive"; revived in the 19th century when flower and plant names became fashionable. The surname is topographical, often representing an Anglicization of continental European surnames such as Spanish Oliva.

Words from the same roots