Where does “Nidhogg” come from?

Nidhogg (English) comes from Old Norse Níðhǫggr, from Old Norse níð, from Proto-Germanic nīþą, from Proto-Indo-European neyH- — to lead.

Nidhogg (English): a dragon who lives in Niflheim (world of ice and the dead), feeding upon the roots of Yggdrasil and bodies of the damned

Definitions

  1. a dragon who lives in Niflheim (world of ice and the dead), feeding upon the roots of Yggdrasil and bodies of the damned

Ancestry of “Nidhogg”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old NorseNíðhǫggra dragon who eats the roots of the Ash of Yggdrasill and torments those who died in shame
2Old Norseníðdefamation; honorless
3Proto-Germanicnīþąhate, envy, malice
4Proto-Indo-EuropeanneyH-to lead
Every word from Proto-Indo-European neyH- →Every word from Proto-Germanic nīþą →Every word from Old Norse níð →