Where does “Merseyside” come from?
Merseyside combines Mersey, from Old English Mersǣ of uncertain origin, with English side, from Middle English side, Old English sīde, Proto-Germanic sīdǭ, and Proto-Indo-European sētis-, ultimately from the root sek- meaning to cut or divide.
Ancestry of “Merseyside”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | -side | fireside , railside; airside , planetside;... |
| 2 | English | Side | — |
| 3 | Middle English | side | custom |
| 4 | Old English | sīde | side, flank |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | *sīdā | — |
| 6 | Medieval Latin | sida | — |
| 7 | Late Latin | seta | Alternative form of saeta; hair, bristle; bristle |
| 8 | Latin | saeta | a bristle, hair on an animal; silk |
| 9 | Proto-Italic | saitā | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | séh₂ito- | — |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | sh₂ey- | to bind, fetter |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | seh₂- | to satiate, satisfy |
Words derived from “Merseyside”