billows
UK[ˈbɪləʊz]US[ˈbɪloʊz]
v
(of smoke, cloud, or steam) to move or flow outward with a rolling, swelling motion
n
large waves or masses of cloud, smoke, or steam
Morpheme Breakdown
billow
s
billow
to swell
s
inflectional suffix
Etymology
The word 'billow' entered English from Old Norse bylgja, meaning "a wave," during the period of Viking settlement and influence. This Norse term is itself related to the Old English bylgan, meaning "to swell," both likely deriving from a common Germanic root. The modern verb sense, describing the swelling, rolling motion of waves, smoke, or fabric, directly extends this core meaning of a rising, surging mass. The addition of the common English inflectional '-s' creates the standard present tense or plural form, maintaining the word's vivid imagery of powerful, undulating movement.
Analysis
Structure: billow (to swell) + s (inflectional suffix)
The core morpheme 'billow' is of Old Norse origin (bylgja, meaning "a wave"). The '-s' is an Old English inflectional suffix used to form the third person singular present tense of the verb or the regular plural of the noun.
Examples
Thick smoke billowed from the factory chimneys.
The sails billowed in the strong wind as the ship picked up speed.
We watched the great billows of cloud roll across the mountain peaks.