The B in Limb Was Never Pronounced
A limb is an arm, leg or large branch. Its silent B was added by scribes centuries after the word existed.
A limb is an arm or leg, or a large branch of a tree. Old English *lim* had no B at all. Scribes added one in the 1500s by analogy with words like *climb* and *thumb*, where a B had once been spoken — so English acquired a silent letter in imitation of other silent letters. *Out on a limb* means in an exposed position, from someone who has climbed along a branch too far to retreat safely.
- An arm or leg. *A broken limb.*
- A large branch. *A limb of the oak.*
- Out on a limb — exposed. *Out on a limb.*
- Limber — flexible. *Limber.*
- Old English — *lim*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | limb | A limb. |
| Plural | limbs | Limbs. |
| Adjective | limbless | Limbless. |
| Related | limber | Limber. |
| Old English | lim | A limb. |
- He broke a limb falling.Body.
- A limb snapped off the tree.Branch.
- The B was added in the 1500s.Spelling.
Silent B after M
- Thumb, climb, dumb — the B was once pronounced
- Limb and crumb — the B was added later by analogy
- Comb and lamb — genuine historical B sounds
- Debt and doubt — B added from Latin instead
- English has several routes to the same silent letter
Old English *lim*, of Germanic origin. The B was added in the 1500s by analogy with *climb* and *thumb*.
Why does limb have a silent B?
Scribes added it in the 1500s by analogy with words like climb and thumb, where a B had once been spoken.
Where does out on a limb come from?
From climbing along a tree branch far enough that retreating becomes dangerous.