Where does “zilverreiger” come from?

zilverreiger (Dutch) comes from Dutch reiger, from Middle Dutch reiger, from Old Dutch heigero, from Frankish hraigrō, from Proto-Germanic hraigrô, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kreik-.

zilverreiger (Dutch): one of certain herons of the genera Ardea and Egretta that have white plumage; roughly corresponding to egret but used more narrowly

Definitions

  1. one of certain herons of the genera Ardea and Egretta that have white plumage; roughly corresponding to egret but used more narrowly

Ancestry of “zilverreiger”, step by step

zilverreiger traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Dutch reiger

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchreigerheron, waterbird of the family Ardeidae
2Middle Dutchreiger—
3Old Dutchheigeroheron
4Frankishhraigrōheron
5Proto-Germanichraigrôheron
6Proto-Indo-European(s)kreik-—

via German Silberreiher

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanSilberreihergreat egret bird of the species
2GermanSilbersilver; argent
3Middle High Germansilber—
4Old High Germansilbarsilver
5Proto-West Germanic*silubrsilver
6Proto-Germanicsilubrąsilver

via Dutch zilver

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchzilversilver; argent
2Middle Dutchsilversilver
3Old Dutchsilver—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)kreik- →