Where does “horkarl” come from?
horkarl (Danish) comes from Old Danish horkarl, from Old Danish hor, from Old Norse hór, from Proto-Germanic hōrą, from Proto-Indo-European kéh₂ros, from Proto-Indo-European keh₂- — to desire, wish.
horkarl (Danish): adulterer; lecher
Ancestry of “horkarl”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old Danish | horkarl | man who has sex with another man's wife |
| 2 | Old Danish | hor | — |
| 3 | Old Norse | hór | adultery; pot-hook |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | hōrą | adultery |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | kéh₂ros | loved; dear |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | keh₂- | to desire, wish |