comb
UK[kəʊm]US[koʊm]
n
A flat piece of plastic, wood, or metal with a row of thin teeth, used for tidying and arranging your hair.
n
A small piece of plastic, wood, or metal with a row of teeth, used for tidying and arranging the hair of animals.
n
A red piece of flesh on the top of the head of some birds, especially male chickens.
v
To tidy or arrange your hair using a comb.
v
To search a place or thing very carefully in order to find something.
Etymology
The word 'comb' has a remarkably stable history, tracing directly back to the Proto-Germanic kambaz, meaning "toothed object." This term is believed to have descended from the Proto-Indo-European root ǵómbʰos, signifying "tooth" or "peg." The semantic connection is beautifully direct: the teeth of a comb are its defining feature. This ancient root also gave rise to related words in other languages, such as the Greek gomphos (a molar tooth or bolt) and the Sanskrit jámbhaḥ (tooth, tusk). The word's journey into Old English as camb or comb and its persistence with minimal phonetic change into Modern English demonstrates its deep-rooted and concrete nature in daily life.
Analysis
The word 'comb' is a simplex word of Germanic origin. It functions as a complete, unanalyzable root in modern English.
Examples
She ran a comb through her tangled hair after the windy walk.
The farmer checked the hen's bright red comb as a sign of its health.
Police officers combed the area for any evidence related to the case.