ramus

R1A1M3U1S1
/ˈɹeɪməs/

noun

A small spray or twig.

OriginLatin rāmus ← Proto-Italic *wrādmos? ← Proto-Indo-European *wr(e)h₂dmos →
UncommonScrabble 7
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Meanings

ramus1

nounramus (plural rami)

plural rami

  1. A small spray or twig.
  2. biologyA branching, as of nerves or blood vessels.
  3. biologyThe stem of a barb of a feather, from which the barbules extend.
  4. anatomyA bony projection, particularly of the jaw, but also in the groin area, both subject to the maturing process of symphysis.

Ramus2

proper noun
  1. Petrus Ramus (1515–1572), French humanist, logician, and educational reformer, originally named Pierre de la Ramée.

Ramus3

proper nounRamus (plural Ramuses)

plural Ramuses

  1. A surname.

Origin

ramus · noun

  1. Proto-Indo-European*wréh₂ds
  2. Proto-Indo-European*wr(e)h₂dmos
  3. Proto-Italic*wrādmos?
  4. Latinrāmus
  5. Englishramus

Borrowed from Latin rāmus (“branch”).

More words from Latin

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Ramus · proper noun

  1. Middle Frenchde La Ramée
  2. New LatinRamus
  3. EnglishRamus

Borrowed from New Latin Ramus, from Middle French de La Ramée.

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Ramus · proper noun

  1. DutchRamus
  2. Old Frenchramu“branch”
  3. FrenchRamus
  4. EnglishRamus

Two main origins: * Borrowed from French Ramus, from Old French ramu (“branch”), a topographic surname for someone who lived in a wooded place. * Borrowed from Dutch Ramus, from a personal name composed of the Proto-Germanic elements *hrabnaz (“raven”) and *waldą (“might, power, force”).

More words from French, Old French, Dutch

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Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with ramus

famousAmossquamousSeamusshamusignoramushamousworld-famous
All rhymes →

Anagrams

MasurSarumsurmarusmamusar
Cite this entry
APA

ramus. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ramus

MLA

“ramus.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ramus. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ramus,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ramus.

Source: ramus on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.