Where does “drijfzand” come from?

drijfzand (Dutch) comes from Dutch drijven, from Middle Dutch drîven, from Old Dutch drīvan, from Proto-West Germanic drīban, from Proto-Germanic drībaną, from Proto-Indo-European dʰreybʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European dʰer- — to support; to hold.

drijfzand (Dutch): quicksand; a treacherous, tricky danger or risk

Definitions

  1. quicksand; a treacherous, tricky danger or risk

Ancestry of “drijfzand”, step by step

drijfzand traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Dutch drijven

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchdrijvento float; to drive, to push
2Middle Dutchdrîvento drive, to push (forward)
3Old Dutchdrīvanto drive
4Proto-West Germanicdrībanto drive, to push, to compel to go
5Proto-Germanicdrībanąto drive, push, compel to go
6Proto-Indo-Europeandʰreybʰ-to drive, push
7Proto-Indo-Europeandʰer-to support; to hold

via Dutch zand

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchzandsand
2Middle Dutchsant—
3Old Dutchsantsand
4Norwegian Nynorsksamdin agreement
5Proto-Germanicsamdazsand
6Proto-Indo-Europeansámh₂dʰossand
7Proto-Indo-Europeansem-together, one
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰer- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰreybʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic drībaną →