Where does “bedrift” come from?

bedrift (English) comes from English drift, from Middle English drift, from Old English drift, from Proto-Germanic driftiz, from Proto-Indo-European dʰreybʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European dʰer- — to support; to hold.

bedrift (English): To drift about; drift around

Definitions

  1. To drift about; drift around

Ancestry of “bedrift”, step by step

bedrift traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English drift

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdriftMovement; that which moves or is moved; The act...
2Middle Englishdrift
3Old Englishdriftan act of driving (cattle, herds, etc.); movement
4Proto-Germanicdriftizdriving
5Proto-Indo-Europeandʰreybʰ-to drive, push
6Proto-Indo-Europeandʰer-to support; to hold

via English Be

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishBeAs an auxiliary verb
2Middle EnglishbeAlternative form of been; Alternative form of...
3Old EnglishbēoI become, I will be, I am; bee
4Proto-Germanicbiumifirst-person singular present active indicative...
5Proto-Germanic*beuną
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰew-to grow, swell; to swell, wax, grow; to blow; to...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰer-Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰreybʰ-Every word from Proto-Germanic driftiz