Where does “atter” come from?

Atter comes from Old English ātor, from Proto-West Germanic ait(t)r, from Proto-Germanic aitrą, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning poison or venom.

atter (English): Poison, venom, especially of a venomous animal;...

Definitions

  1. Poison, venom, especially of a venomous animal;...

Ancestry of “atter”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishatterA poison or toxin; that which poisons
2Old Englishāttor—
3Proto-Germanic*aitr—
4Proto-Germanicaitrąpoison; pus
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂oyd-abscess; tumor, abscess
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂oyd- →Every word from Proto-Germanic aitrą →Every word from Proto-Germanic *aitr →