Where does “billfish” come from?

billfish (English) comes from English Bill, from Middle English bill, from Old English bil, from Frankish billi, from Proto-Germanic bilją, from Proto-Germanic harjaz, from Proto-Indo-European kóryos, from Proto-Indo-European ḱer- — army.

billfish (English): Any of several fish, of the families...

Definitions

  1. Any of several fish, of the families...

Ancestry of “billfish”, step by step

billfish traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Bill

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishBillA nickname for the British constabulary. Often called "The Bill" or "Old Bill"
2Middle Englishbill
3Old Englishbila kind of sword or other bladed weapon,...
4Frankishbilli
5Proto-Germanicbiljąa cutting implement; blade; axe; sword; spike;...
6Proto-Germanicharjazarmy; army leader; commander; warrior
7Proto-Indo-Europeankóryoswar; troops; army; war, troops
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱer-to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeankr̥-to turn, to bend
10Proto-Indo-Europeanker-army

via English Fish

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishFishThe constellation and zodiacal sign Pisces
2Old Englishfiscianto fish
3Proto-West Germanicfiskōnto fish, to catch fish
4Proto-Germanicfiskōnąto fish, to catch fish
5Proto-Germanic-ōnąCreates denominative verbs from nouns; Creates...
6Proto-Indo-European-eh₂yétiCreates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive...
7Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
8Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-
9Chichewaiyehe, she
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ker-