Where does “Krampus” come from?
Krampus (English) comes from German Krampus, from German Krampf, from Middle High German kramph, from Old High German krampho, from Proto-West Germanic *krampu, from Proto-Germanic krampō, from Proto-Germanic krampô, from Proto-Indo-European grem- — to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind...
Krampus (English): A beast in the folklore of Alpine countries, said to punish misbehaving children during the Christmas season
Definitions
- A beast in the folklore of Alpine countries, said to punish misbehaving children during the Christmas season
Ancestry of “Krampus”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | Krampus | Krampus; cramp |
| 2 | German | Krampf | cramp |
| 3 | Middle High German | kramph | — |
| 4 | Old High German | krampho | — |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | *krampu | — |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | krampō | cramp; clasp |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | krampô | cramp |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | grem- | to bind together, unite; lap, pile, heap |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | ger- | to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind... |