Where does “handlanger” come from?
handlanger (Afrikaans) comes from Dutch handlanger, from German Handlanger, from German hand, from Middle High German hant, from Old High German hant, from Proto-West Germanic handu, from Swedish hand, from Old Swedish hand — hand.
handlanger (Afrikaans): assistant, helper one who aids
Definitions
- assistant, helper one who aids
Ancestry of “handlanger”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dutch | handlanger | accomplice, henchman one who assists in criminal or unethical activity |
| 2 | German | Handlanger | a handyman; a henchman |
| 3 | German | hand | hand |
| 4 | Middle High German | hant | hand |
| 5 | Old High German | hant | hand |
| 6 | Proto-West Germanic | handu | hand |
| 7 | Swedish | hand | A hand; A hand; the set of cards held by a player |
| 8 | Old Swedish | hand | A hand; A direction; A behalf |
| 9 | Old Norse | hǫnd | hand |
| 10 | Proto-Germanic | handuz | hand |