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
- A vagabond, a vagrant, a tramp
Ancestry of “zwerver”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Dutch | zwerven | to wander, to roam |
| 2 | Middle Dutch | swerven | to rove; to stray |
| 3 | Old Dutch | swervan | — |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | swerbaną | to rub; wipe; polish; to file |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | swerbʰ- | to turn; wipe; sweep |