Brome
/ˈbroʊm/noun
Any of numerous grasses of the genus Bromus, often used for forage or found as weeds.
Did you know?The botanical name Bromus comes from Ancient Greek brómos, meaning “oat grass,” and is traditionally linked with brémō, “to roar” or “rustle,” evoking the sound of moving grass.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
βρόμος (brómos)
“Oat grass; a grass associated with the genus later called Bromus”
Ancient Greek
Greek
βρέμω (brémō)
“To roar, resound, or make a deep rustling noise; a possible related root proposed for brómos”
Ancient Latin
Latin
bromus
“A kind of grass, especially oat grass”
16th Century
French
brome
“Brome grass, borrowed from Latin bromus”
16th–17th Century
English
brome
“A grass of the genus Bromus, adopted from French or Latin botanical usage”
Modern English
English
brome
“Various perennial or annual grasses, commonly used as forage or regarded as weeds”