Where does “biechtvader” come from?

biechtvader (Dutch) comes from Dutch vader, from Middle Dutch vāder, from Old Dutch fadar, from Proto-West Germanic fader, from Proto-Germanic fadēr, from Proto-Indo-European ph₂tḗr, from Proto-Indo-European peh₂- — to protect; to shepherd.

biechtvader (Dutch): father confessor, confessor priest who administers the sacrament of confession, ad hoc or on a more regular basis with specific believers (e.g. his parishioners)

Definitions

  1. father confessor, confessor priest who administers the sacrament of confession, ad hoc or on a more regular basis with specific believers (e.g. his parishioners)

Ancestry of “biechtvader”, step by step

biechtvader traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Dutch vader

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchvaderfather; forefather
2Middle Dutchvāderfather
3Old Dutchfadarfather
4Proto-West Germanicfaderfather
5Proto-Germanicfadērfather
6Proto-Indo-Europeanph₂tḗrfather
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₂-to protect; to shepherd

via Dutch biecht

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchbiechtconfession
2Middle Dutchbiechte
3Old Dutchbigihti
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₂-Every word from Proto-Indo-European ph₂tḗrEvery word from Proto-Germanic fadēr