Where does “rottegift” come from?

rottegift (Danish) comes from Danish rotte, from German zusammenrotten, from German rotten, from Middle High German roten, from Middle High German rote, from Old French rote, from Latin rupta, from Latin ruptus — to tear out, dig out, open, acquire.

rottegift (Danish): rat poison

Definitions

  1. rat poison

Ancestry of “rottegift”, step by step

rottegift traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Danish rotte

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Danishrotterat
2GermanzusammenrottenTo form into a gang, to rout, to squad
3Germanrottento form into a gang, rout, squad; Alternative...
4Middle High Germanroten
5Middle High Germanrote
6Old Frenchroteroute, path
7Latinruptanominative feminine singular of ruptus;...
8Latinruptusbroken; ruptured, burst
9Latinrumpōto break, burst, tear, rend, rupture; break asunder, force open
10Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrunéptito be breaking
11Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrewp-to break, tear
12Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrew-to tear out, dig out, open, acquire

via Danish gift

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Danishgiftpoison; married; imperative of gifte
2Germangiftpoison; toxin; venom
3Middle High Germangiftgift, something given
4Old High Germangiftgift
5Proto-West Germanic*gifti
6Proto-Germanicgiftizgiving, gift
7Proto-Germanicgebanąto give
8Proto-Indo-Europeangʰebʰ-to give
Every word from Proto-Indo-European Hrew-Every word from Proto-Indo-European Hrewp-Every word from Proto-Indo-European Hrunépti