Alder
/ˈɔːl.dər/noun
A tree or shrub of the birch family that often grows in wet ground and has catkins and cone-like fruits.
Did you know?Alder wood was famously prized in Europe because it resists rot in water, which is why it was often used for piles, bridges, and even submerged structures.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂el- / *el-
“A proposed ancient root meaning 'reddish-brown' or 'yellowish-brown,' often linked to alder’s bark and wood color.”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*alþiz / *alizō
“The ancestral Germanic word for the alder tree.”
Old English
English
alor
“The alder tree.”
Middle English
English
alder
“The alder tree.”
Modern English
English
alder
“A tree or shrub of the birch family, especially one growing in wet places.”