Where does “Severn” come from?
Severn derives from Middle English Severne, from Old English Sæfern, from Proto-Celtic Sabrinā, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots related to flowing water.
Severn (English): that flows into the Bristol Channel
Definitions
- that flows into the Bristol Channel
Ancestry of “Severn”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | Severne | — |
| 2 | Old English | Sæfern | Severn |
| 3 | Proto-Celtic | Sabrinā | Severn, a river of England and Wales that flows into the Bristol Channel |
| 4 | Proto-Celtic | samaros | summer fallow, uncropped and plowed land during... |
| 5 | Proto-Celtic | aros | ploughing, ploughed land |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂erh₃-o- | ploughing |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂erh₃- | to plough |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁er- | earth |