Where does “befreckled” come from?

befreckled (English) comes from English freckled, from English freckle, from Middle English freken, from Old Norse freknur, from Proto-Germanic sprekalą, from Proto-Indo-European sp(h)er(e)g- — to strew, sprinkle.

befreckled (English): Covered in freckles

Definitions

  1. Covered in freckles

Ancestry of “befreckled”, step by step

befreckled traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English freckled

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfreckledHaving freckles; covered with freckles
2EnglishfreckleA small brownish or reddish pigmentation spot on...
3Middle Englishfreken—
4Old Norsefreknurspeckles
5Proto-Germanicsprekaląfreckle
6Proto-Indo-Europeansp(h)er(e)g-to strew, sprinkle

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-West Germanic*bijābee
5Proto-Germanicbijōbee
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰī-to hit, to pierce
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sp(h)er(e)g- →Every word from Proto-Germanic sprekalą →Every word from Old Norse freknur →