From Proto-Italic *weimən, from Proto-Indo-European *wéh₁imn̥. By surface analysis, vieō (“plait, weave”) + -men (noun-forming suffix). Cognates include German Weide, Dutch wilg, Swedish vide, Persian بید, Ancient Greek ἰτέα (itéa), all meaning 'willow', as well as English withy, Russian ветвь (vetvʹ, “branch”), Russian вить (vitʹ, “to twist, plaid”), Russian ветла́ (vetlá, “white willow”), Sanskrit वेतस (vetasa, “reed, cane, rod”), Sanskrit व्ययति (vyayati, “to wrap, clothe”).