February

Meaning

Proper Noun

• The short month following January and preceding March in the Roman, Julian, and Gregorian calendars, used in all three calendars for intercalation or addition of leap days.
• A female given name from English.

Origin

• From Middle English Februarie, februari, februare, from Latin Februārius ("the month of the Februa"), from Fēbrua, a Roman holiday two days after its ides (i.e., Feb. 15), + -arius. Fēbrua from fēbruum, from an earlier Sabine word, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewh₂- ("smoke, haze") and thus cognate with thio- and Ancient Greek θεῖον ("sulfur") or from Proto-Indo-European *dʰegʷʰris, an extension of the root *dʰegʷʰ- and thus cognate with fever and febris. A relatinization abandoning Middle English feoverel, from Old French feverier.