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Origin and history of wheat

wheat(n.)

the cereal grain that furnishes flour, the chief breadstuff of temperate lands; also the plant which yields it; Middle English whete, from Old English hwæte "wheat," from Proto-Germanic *hwaitjaz (source also of Old Saxon hweti, Old Norse hveiti, Norwegian kveite, Old Frisian hwete, Middle Dutch, Dutch weit, Old High German weizzi, German Weizen, Gothic hvaiteis "wheat").

The word is is etymologically, "that which is white" (in reference to the color of the grain or the meal), from PIE *kwoid-yo-, suffixed variant form of root *kweid-, *kweit- "to shine" (see white; and compare Welsh gwenith "wheat," related to gwenn "white"). As a name for a pale gold color like ripe wheat, it is attested by 1915.

The Old World grain was introduced into New Spain in 1528. Wheat germ, the embryo of the wheat grain, valued for nutrition, is by 1897 (see germ (n.)). Wheaties, the cereal brand name, was patented 1925.

Entries linking to wheat

germ(n.)

mid-15c., "bud, sprout;" 1640s, "rudiment of a new organism in an existing one," from French germe "germ (of egg); bud, seed, fruit; offering," from Latin germen (genitive germinis) "spring, offshoot; sprout, bud," which is of uncertain origin, perhaps from PIE root *gene- "give birth, beget," with derivatives referring to procreation and familial and tribal groups.

The older sense is preserved in wheat germ and germ of an idea; sense of "seed of a disease" first recorded 1796 in English; that of "harmful micro-organism" dates from 1871. Germ warfare is recorded from 1919.

white(adj.)

Middle English whit, "of the color of milk or snow, fully luminous and devoid of hue," from Old English hwit "bright, radiant; clear, fair," also as a noun (see separate entry), from Proto-Germanic *hweit-, according to Watkins from suffixed form of PIE root *kweit- "white; to shine."

As a surname, originally with reference to fair hair or complexion, it is one of the oldest in English, being well-established before the Conquest. By late 13c. as the color of hair in old age. In early use also the color of lustrous metal, especially "silver," hence such expressions as white the hand "bribe" (early 14c.).

The meaning "morally pure" was in Old English. In Middle English the figurative use was "gracious, friendly, favorable." The color's association with royalist causes dates to late 18c.

The slang sense of "honorable, fair" is by 1877, American English, based on race prejudice. The meaning "of those races (chiefly European or of European extraction) characterized by light complexion" is recorded from c. 1600; the meaning "characteristic of or pertaining to white people" is from 1852, American English. White folks for "white people" in Black English is by 1929.

White supremacy is attested from 1868 [John H. Van Evrie, M.D., "White Supremacy and Negro Subordination," New York, 1868]. White-chauvinism is by 1946. White flight of caucasians out of inner-city areas is attested by 1966, American English. White privilege, "preferential treatment of caucasians" is from 1960, originally in South African contexts, although there is an isolated American use from 1928.

White way "brightly illuminated street in a big city" is from 1908. The white flag of truce or surrender is attested from c. 1600. White lie is attested from 1741. White Christmas in reference to snow is attested from 1847. White water "river rapids" is recorded from 1580s. White lightning "inferior whiskey" is from 1921.

White Russian "language of Byelorussia" is recorded from 1850; the mixed drink is from c. 1978. Astronomical white dwarf is from 1924. White witch, one who uses the power for good, is from 1620s. White House as the name of the U.S. presidential residence is recorded from 1811.

Germanic cognates include Old Saxon and Old Frisian hwit, Old Norse hvitr, Dutch wit, Old High German hwiz, German weiß, Gothic hveits.

The PIE root is also reconstructed to be the source of Sanskrit svetah "white;" Old Church Slavonic sviteti "to shine," svetu "light;" Lithuanian šviesti "to shine," švaityti "to brighten."