Where does “Beaver” come from?
Beaver comes from Middle English bever, Old English beofor, and Latin bibō, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European peh₃- meaning to drink.
Beaver (English): A native or resident of the American state of...
Definitions
- A native or resident of the American state of...
Ancestry of “Beaver”, step by step
Beaver traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via French castor
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | castor | beaver |
| 2 | Middle French | castor | — |
| 3 | Old French | castor | beaver |
| 4 | Latin | Castor | Castor |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | Κάστωρ | Castor |
| 6 | Doric Greek | κάστον | — |
via Middle English bever
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | bever | A beaver; Beaver fur, skin, or pelt, or a similar... |
| 2 | Old English | befer | beaver |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | bebruz | beaver |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰébʰrus | beaver |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰrew- | to brew, boil; to boil, seethe; to brew, to... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰer- | to bear, carry |