Where does “kerstman” come from?
kerstman (Dutch) comes from Dutch Kerst, from Middle Dutch kerst, from Latin Chrīstus, from Ancient Greek Χριστός, from Ancient Greek χρίω, from Proto-Indo-European gʰrēy-, from Proto-Indo-European gʰer- — to rub; to stroke; to grind.
kerstman (Dutch): Father Christmas, Santa Claus
Definitions
- Father Christmas, Santa Claus
Ancestry of “kerstman”, step by step
kerstman traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Dutch Kerst
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dutch | Kerst | Christ |
| 2 | Middle Dutch | kerst | Christ |
| 3 | Latin | Chrīstus | — |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | Χριστός | anointed; messiah; annointed, the annointed one,... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | χρίω | to rub or smear (especially the body) with oil or unguents; to anoint |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | gʰrēy- | to smear; to paint, streak, smear |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | gʰer- | to rub; to stroke; to grind |
via Dutch Man
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dutch | Man | man, human male, either adult or age-irrespective |
| 2 | Middle Dutch | man | human; person; man, male |
| 3 | Old Dutch | man | human, person; man, male |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | mann | person, human |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | *mann- | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | men- | to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,... |