Where does “rattenvanger” come from?

rattenvanger (Dutch) comes from Dutch rat, from Middle Dutch ratte, from Old Dutch rato, from Frankish ratt, from Proto-Germanic rattaz, from Proto-Indo-European Hreh₃d- — to scrape.

rattenvanger (Dutch): pied piper

Definitions

  1. pied piper

Ancestry of “rattenvanger”, step by step

rattenvanger traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Dutch rat

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1DutchratA rat, medium-sized rodent belonging to the genus...
2Middle Dutchratterat
3Old Dutchrato—
4Frankishratt—
5Proto-Germanicrattazrat
6Proto-Indo-EuropeanHreh₃d-to scrape

via Dutch vanger

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchvangercatcher
2Old Norsevangra garden, field, meadow
3Proto-Germanicwangazfield, meadow
Every word from Proto-Indo-European Hreh₃d- →Every word from Proto-Germanic rattaz →Every word from Frankish ratt →
rattenvanger — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer