English word origin

Etymology of ream

3 source sectionsExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗

In this entry · 3 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Source etymology 1

Original entry ↗

verb

To cream; mantle; foam; froth.

noun

Cream; also, the creamlike froth on ale or other liquor; froth or foam in general.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From Middle English rem, reme, from Old English rēam (“cream”), from Proto-West Germanic *raum, from Proto-Germanic *raumaz (“cream”), from Proto-Indo-European *réwgʰmn̥ (“to sour [milk]”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Room (“cream”), West Frisian rjemme (“cream”), Dutch room (“cream”), German Low German Rahm, Rohm (“cream”), German Rahm (“cream”), Swedish römme (“cream”), Norwegian rømme (“sour cream”), Faroese rómi (“cream”), Icelandic rjómi (“cream”). See also ramekin.

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Inherited-form mentionremenm
Inherited-form mentionrēamang · cream
Inherited-form mention*raumgmw-pro
Inherited-form mention*raumazgem-pro
Inherited-form mention*réwgʰmn̥ine-pro
Cognate mentionRoomstq · cream
Cognate mentionrjemmefy · cream
Cognate mentionroomnl · cream
Cognate mentionRahmde · cream
Cognate mentionrömmesv · cream
Cognate mentionrømmeno · sour cream
Cognate mentionrómifo · cream
Cognate mentionrjómiis · cream

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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      "name": "inh",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "rem",
        "id": "cream"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English rem"
    },
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      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "rēam",
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    },
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    },
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    },
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      "name": "cog",
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    },
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      "args": {
        "1": "nds-de",
        "2": "Rahm"
      },
      "expansion": "German Low German Rahm"
    },
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      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "Rahm",
        "t": "cream"
      },
      "expansion": "German Rahm (“cream”)"
    },
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      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "sv",
        "2": "römme",
        "t": "cream"
      },
      "expansion": "Swedish römme (“cream”)"
    },
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      "name": "cog",
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        "1": "no",
        "2": "rømme",
        "t": "sour cream"
      },
      "expansion": "Norwegian rømme (“sour cream”)"
    },
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      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
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        "2": "rómi",
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      },
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    },
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        "2": "rjómi",
        "t": "cream"
      },
      "expansion": "Icelandic rjómi (“cream”)"
    }
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      "rem#Middle_English:_cream"
    ],
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      "reme",
      "reme#Middle_English"
    ],
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      "rēam",
      "ream#Old_English"
    ],
    [
      "*raum",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/raum"
    ],
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      "*raumaz",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/raumaz"
    ],
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      "Room#Saterland_Frisian"
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      "rjemme#West_Frisian"
    ],
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      "room",
      "room#Dutch"
    ],
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      "Rahm#Low_German"
    ],
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      "Rohm",
      "Rohm#Low_German"
    ],
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      "Rahm",
      "Rahm#German"
    ],
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      "römme",
      "römme#Swedish"
    ],
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      "rømme",
      "rømme#Norwegian"
    ],
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      "rómi",
      "rómi#Faroese"
    ],
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      "rjómi#Icelandic"
    ],
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      "ramekin",
      "ramekin#English"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
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        "To cream; mantle; foam; froth."
      ],
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Source etymology 2

Original entry ↗

verb

To enlarge (a hole), especially using a reamer; to bore (a hole) wider. · To remove (material) by reaming. · To remove burrs and debris from inside (something, such as a freshly bored hole) using a tool. · To shape or form, especially using a reamer.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Etymology uncertain, possibly a variant of rime (etymology 4) with the East Anglian and Kentish development of Old English /yː/ to /eː/ (the modern spelling would thus be unetymologically for *reem). Doublet of room. Cognates * Dutch ruimen (“to empty, evacuate”) * German räumen (“to make room”) * Icelandic rýma (“to make room, clear”).

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Doublet mentionroomen
Cognate mentionruimennl · to empty, evacuate
Cognate mentionräumende · to make room
Cognate mentionrýmais · to make room, clear

This page abbreviates 2 auxiliary source items. The etymology narrative is not shortened. Omission counts are available in the audit fields below; consult the original for complete auxiliary material.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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    },
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Source etymology 3

Original entry ↗

noun

An extremely large quantity of documents, data, or information that supports a claim, investigation, or case. · An abstract large amount of something.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From Middle English reme, from Old French raime, rayme (“ream”) (French rame), from Catalan raima (“ream”), from Arabic رِزْمَة (rizma, “bundle”).

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Inherited-form mentionremeenm
Derivation mentionraimefro
Derivation mentionraimaca
Derivation mentionرِزْمَةar
Root classification mentionر ز مar

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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    },
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        "4": "",
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    },
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Where this record stops

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An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for ream →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger

Machine-source provenance

Source SHA-256: 5ff2c072f8099f2d2ce484bd6957bf179f046d2ad37bc36555edf8bb84cb5291
Import run: 73216b9a9b78ed3830994bf853103716f5a4dc57099e371e9f8fdc468facca26
Permanent entry ID: w-cmVhbQ