Where does “REE” come from?

REE (English) comes from Old Norse hríð, from Proto-Germanic hrīþō, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kreyt-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)ḱer- — dung, manure, filth; manure, dung, filth.

REE (English): Initialism of rare earth element

Definitions

  1. Initialism of rare earth element

Ancestry of “REE”, step by step

REE traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old Norse hríð

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norsehríðstorm, snowstorm
2Proto-GermanichrīþōA sudden onset; attack; A seizure; fit; A storm
3Proto-Indo-European(s)kreyt-to wind; twist; bend
4Proto-Indo-European(s)ḱer-dung, manure, filth; manure, dung, filth

via Middle English rei

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishrei—
2Old Englishhrēohrough, fierce, wild, angry, disturbed, troubled,...
3Proto-Germanichreuhazbad, wild
4Proto-Indo-Europeankrewh₂-blood outside the body
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)ḱer- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)kreyt- →Every word from Proto-Germanic hrīþō →