Where does “hvad for” come from?

hvad for (Danish) comes from Danish før, from Old Norse fóðr, from Middle Low German vōder, from Proto-Germanic fōdrą, from Proto-Germanic fōdô, from Proto-Indo-European pat- — to feed; path; to go.

hvad for (Danish): what, which

Definitions

  1. what, which

Ancestry of “hvad for”, step by step

hvad for traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Danish før

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Danishførbefore; before, until; before, prior, sooner
2Old Norsefóðrfodder; sheath
3Middle Low Germanvōderlinen, sheath; sheath, linen
4Proto-Germanicfōdrąfodder; sheath
5Proto-Germanicfōdôfood, nourishment
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpat-to feed; path; to go

via Danish hvad

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Danishhvadwhat
2Old Norsehvatwhat
3Proto-Germanichwatnominative/accusative singular neuter of *hwaz
4Proto-Indo-Europeankʷódwhat
5Proto-Indo-Europeankʷóswho
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pat- →Every word from Proto-Germanic fōdô →Every word from Proto-Germanic fōdrą →