Where does “betrap” come from?

betrap (English) comes from English trap, from Middle English trappe, from Old English træppe, from Proto-Germanic trap-, from Proto-Indo-European dreb-, from Proto-Indo-European der- — to split, to separate; to tear, to crack, to...

betrap (English): To catch in a trap; entrap; ensnare; enclose; To...

Definitions

  1. To catch in a trap; entrap; ensnare; enclose; To...

Ancestry of “betrap”, step by step

betrap traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via English trap

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtrapA machine or other device designed to catch (and sometimes kill) animals, either by holding them in a container, or by catching hold of part of the body
2Middle Englishtrappetrap
3Old Englishtræppea trap
4Proto-Germanictrap-
5Proto-Indo-Europeandreb-
6Proto-Indo-Europeander-to split, to separate; to tear, to crack, to...

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...

via Dutch betrappen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchbetrappento take by surprise, to catch unaware, someone...
2Middle Dutchbetrapento catch
Every word from Proto-Indo-European der-Every word from Proto-Indo-European dreb-Every word from Proto-Germanic trap-