Ers
/ɜːrz/noun
A vetch-like leguminous plant, especially one cultivated for its seeds as food or animal feed.
Did you know?Ers is linked to Latin ervum, the name of a bitter vetch mentioned by Roman agricultural writers and preserved in scientific plant terminology.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*werwom
“A reconstructed term possibly referring to a leguminous plant; the reconstruction is uncertain.”
Classical Latin
Latin
ervum
“Bitter vetch or a similar leguminous plant.”
Old French
Old French
ers
“A vetch-like plant cultivated for its seeds.”
Middle English
Middle English
erse
“The plant ers, or its edible seed.”
16th Century
English
ers
“A leguminous crop used for food and fodder.”
Modern English
English
ers
“A vetch-like legume, now chiefly encountered in historical, agricultural, or botanical contexts.”