Where does “Switzer” come from?
Switzer comes from German Schwytzer, a demonym for inhabitants of Schwyz, a canton in central Switzerland.
Switzer (English): A native or inhabitant of Switzerland, a Swiss...
Definitions
- A native or inhabitant of Switzerland, a Swiss...
Ancestry of “Switzer”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | Schwytzer | a Swiss person |
| 2 | Middle High German | Swīz | the valley or the town of Schwyz; Schwyz |
| 3 | Old High German | Suittes | the town of Schwyz |
| 4 | Old High German | swīdan | to burn |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | swīþan | to burn, to singe |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | swīþaną | to burn, singe |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | swey- | to twist, swing; to hiss; whistle; to swing,... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | sew- | to press out, extract; juice; liquid, rain; to... |