Monday, 7 August 2023

How the French language influenced English with the word 'dandelion'

'Dandelion' is a word borrowed from French 'dent de lion'. The word entered the English language some time around the 14th century.


dandelion [noun] [14th century]
  • any of a genus (Taraxacum) of yellow-flowered composite herbs with milky sap
  • one (T. officinale) sometimes grown as a potherb and nearly cosmopolitan as a weed
See 'dandelion' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from French.

Etymology: Middle English 'dendelyoun' from Anglo-French 'dent de lion' literally, lion's tooth
See more loan words from 1300s.


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