词源 |
branch n.c. 1300, braunch, "division or subdivision of the stem of a tree or bush" (also used of things resembling a branch in its relation to a trunk, such as geographic features, lines of family descent), from Old French branche "branch, bough, twig; branch of a family" (12c.), from Late Latin branca "footprint," later "a claw, paw," which is of unknown origin, said to be probably from Gaulish. The connecting notion would be the shape (compare pedigree). In English it replaced native bough. The meaning "local office of a business" is recorded by 1817, from the earlier sense of "component part of a system" (1690s). branch v. "send out shoots or new limbs," late 14c., also, of blood vessels, family trees, etc., "be forked," from branch (n.). The meaning "spread out from a center, radiate" is from c. 1400. Related: Branched; branching. updated on October 23, 2022 |