Where does “havfrue” come from?

havfrue (Danish) comes from Danish frue, from Old Saxon frūa, from Proto-Germanic frawjǭ, from Proto-Indo-European proHwo-, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.

havfrue (Danish): a mermaid

Definitions

  1. a mermaid

Ancestry of “havfrue”, step by step

havfrue traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Danish frue

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Danishfruelady; Mrs, ma'am; wife
2Old Saxonfrūalady
3Proto-Germanicfrawjǭlady, wife of a lord
4Proto-Indo-EuropeanproHwo-master, judge; right judge, master
5Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

via Danish hav

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Danishhavsea, ocean; multitude, large amount; imperative...
2Old Norsehafsea, ocean
3Proto-Germanichabąsea
4Proto-Indo-Europeankap-to seize, hold

Words derived from “havfrue”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →Every word from Proto-Indo-European per- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European proHwo- →
havfrue — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer