rib

rib · noun, verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*h₁rebʰ-“arch, ceiling, cover”
2. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*ribją“rib, reef”
3. Proto-West Germanic · inherited from*ribi
4. Old English · inherited fromribb“rib”
5. Middle English · inherited fromrib
6. English todayrib

From Middle English rib, ribbe, from Old English ribb (“rib”), from Proto-West Germanic *ribi, from Proto-Germanic *ribją (“rib, reef”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁rebʰ- (“arch, ceiling, cover”). Cognate with Dutch rib (“rib”), Norwegian ribbe (“sparerib”), Norwegian ribben (“rib”), Low German ribbe (“rib”), German Rippe (“rib”), Old Norse rif (“rib, reef”), Serbo-Croatian rèbro (“rib”). (wife or woman): In reference to the creation of Eve from Adam's rib in the Bible.

rib · noun²

1. Old English · inherited fromribbe“hound's-tongue”
2. Middle English · inherited fromribbe
3. English todayrib

From Middle English ribbe, from Old English ribbe (“hound's-tongue”).

Words from the same roots