Imbricate
/ɪmˈbreɪkət/noun
Arranged like overlapping roof tiles, or to arrange things in that manner.
Did you know?The Latin root was connected with rain, and its Greek relative survives in scientific words describing rainfall, rain-loving organisms, and rain measurement.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₁mbʰr-
“Rain or rainfall; a reconstructed root associated with wet weather”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ὄμβρος (ombros)
“Rainstorm or heavy rain”
Classical Latin
Latin
imber
“Rain or a rain shower”
Classical Latin
Latin
imbrex
“A curved roof tile, literally associated with rainwater”
Classical Latin
Latin
imbricāre / imbricātus
“To cover with curved tiles; tiled or overlapping”
17th Century
English
imbricate
“Arranged in overlapping layers like roof tiles”
Explore more surprising origins