Wreath
/riːθ/noun
An arrangement of flowers, leaves, or other material twisted into a ring; also, a circular band or garland.
Did you know?The word comes from an ancient root meaning “to turn or twist,” which also gave us words tied to rotation and bending, so a wreath is etymologically a little spell of circular motion.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wer-
“to turn, bend, or twist”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*writhaną
“to twist, wind, or bind”
Old English
English
writha
“a band or bandage; something twisted”
Middle English
English
wrethe
“a twisted band or garland”
Modern English
English
wreath
“a circular arrangement of flowers, leaves, or other material”