Where does “spookstad” come from?

spookstad (Dutch) comes from Dutch stad, from Middle Dutch stat, from Old Dutch stad, from Proto-Germanic stadiz, from Proto-Indo-European stéh₂tis, from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂-.

spookstad (Dutch): ghost town

Definitions

  1. ghost town

Ancestry of “spookstad”, step by step

spookstad traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Dutch stad

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchstadcity, town; the town/city centre
2Middle Dutchstatplace; position, station; rank, status
3Old Dutchstada site, place, location, standing
4Proto-Germanicstadizplace, location
5Proto-Indo-Europeanstéh₂tisstanding, position
6Proto-Indo-European*steh₂-—

via Dutch spook

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchspookphantom, ghost; horror, terror; an annoying and...
2Middle Dutchspoocapparition, ghost; spook, ghost
3Middle Dutchspoke—
4Proto-Germanicspōkspook, ghost, apparition; witchcraft, wizardry
Every word from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- →