Where does “driftig” come from?

driftig (Dutch) comes from Swedish drift, from Old Norse dript, from Proto-Germanic driftiz, from Proto-Indo-European dʰreybʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European dʰer- — to support; to hold.

driftig (Dutch): hot-tempered; passionate

Definitions

  1. hot-tempered; passionate

Ancestry of “driftig”, step by step

driftig traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Swedish drift

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swedishdrifturge, instinct; operation, management
2Old Norsedript—
3Proto-Germanicdriftizdriving
4Proto-Indo-Europeandʰreybʰ-to drive, push
5Proto-Indo-Europeandʰer-to support; to hold

via Middle Dutch driftich

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Dutchdriftich—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰer- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰreybʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic driftiz →