Sorbus
/ˈsɔːr.bəs/noun
A genus of trees and shrubs in the rose family, including rowans and whitebeams.
Did you know?Sorbus is a genuine classical Latin tree name, and its descendants helped shape the scientific names of rowans and their relatives, which have long been treated in European folklore as protective, uncanny trees.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
sorbus
“the service tree or rowan-like tree”
Late Latin
Latin
Sorbus
“used as a botanical name for related trees”
Medieval Latin
Latin
sorbus
“a learned tree name in herbals and plant lists”
Modern English
English
Sorbus
“the botanical genus including rowans and whitebeams”
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