Where does “zwerver” come from?

zwerver (Dutch) comes from Dutch zwerven, from Middle Dutch swerven, from Old Dutch swervan, from Proto-Germanic swerbaną, from Proto-Indo-European swerbʰ- — to turn; wipe; sweep.

zwerver (Dutch): A vagabond, a vagrant, a tramp

Definitions

  1. A vagabond, a vagrant, a tramp

Ancestry of “zwerver”, step by step

zwerver traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Dutch zwerven

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchzwervento wander, to roam
2Middle Dutchswervento rove; to stray
3Old Dutchswervan—
4Proto-Germanicswerbanąto rub; wipe; polish; to file
5Proto-Indo-Europeanswerbʰ-to turn; wipe; sweep

via Dutch er

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutcherthere; him, her, it, them; of them, of those
2Old Dutchiro—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European swerbʰ- →