Where does “følgesvend” come from?
følgesvend (Danish) comes from Danish følge, from Old Danish fylghæ, from Old Norse fylgja, from Proto-Germanic fulgijaną — to follow.
følgesvend (Danish): follower
Ancestry of “følgesvend”, step by step
følgesvend traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Danish følge
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Danish | følge | to follow; to be a logical consequence of;... |
| 2 | Old Danish | fylghæ | — |
| 3 | Old Norse | fylgja | companionship; kind of guardian angel, guardian... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | fulgijaną | to follow |
via Danish Svend
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Danish | Svend | a man, especially a young, vigorous one |
| 2 | Old Norse | sveinn | boy, lad; servant, lackey |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | swainaz | relative; kinsman; young man; herder; herdsman,... |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | swé | self |