Coniferous
/kəˈnɪf.ər.əs/noun
Having cones; relating to cone-bearing trees like pines and firs.
Did you know?The word comes from Latin roots meaning “to bear cones,” and those cones were once seen as powerful reproductive symbols in ancient plant lore.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bher-
“to carry, bear”
Latin
Latin
ferre
“to bear, carry”
Latin
Latin
conus
“cone”
Late Latin
Latin
conifer
“cone-bearing”
Middle English
English
conifere
“cone-bearing tree”
Modern English
English
coniferous
“having cones; cone-bearing”