Wine, Vine and Vinegar Are One Family
A vine is a climbing plant, especially the grapevine. Its root runs through several words.
A vine is a climbing or trailing plant, especially the grapevine. Latin *vinum*, wine, and *vinea*, a vineyard, sit behind a tight family: *vine*, *wine*, *vineyard*, *vintage*, *vintner*, *vinyl* and *vinegar*, which is French *vin aigre*, sour wine. Even *vignette* belongs, being a small decorative border of vine leaves. A grapevine can live over a century, and the phrase *heard it on the grapevine* comes from the tangled telegraph wires of the American Civil War.
- A climbing plant. *A grapevine.*
- Vineyard. *A vineyard.*
- Vintage. *A good vintage.*
- Vinegar — sour wine. *Vinegar.*
- Latin — *vinum*, wine. *The root.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | vine | A vine. |
| Plural | vines | Vines. |
| Compound | vineyard | A vineyard. |
| Related | vintner | A vintner. |
| Latin | vinum | Wine. |
- The vine climbed the wall.Plant.
- Vinegar means sour wine.Etymology.
- Heard it on the grapevine.Idiom.
The vinum family
- Wine — the drink
- Vineyard — where vines are grown
- Vintage — the grape harvest of a year
- Vintner — a wine merchant
- Vignette — a border of vine leaves, then a small sketch
Old French *vine*, from Latin *vinea*, a vineyard, from *vinum*, wine.
Where does heard it on the grapevine come from?
From the tangled telegraph wires of the American Civil War, which were compared to grapevines and carried unreliable news.
Is vignette related to vine?
Yes. It first meant a small decorative border of vine leaves before meaning a brief sketch.