Where does “bridgekeeper” come from?

bridgekeeper (English) comes from English Bridge, from Middle English brigge, from Old Norse bryggja, from Proto-Germanic brewwaną, from Proto-Indo-European bʰrewh₁-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰer- — to bear, carry.

bridgekeeper (English): One who guards a bridge

Definitions

  1. One who guards a bridge

Ancestry of “bridgekeeper”, step by step

bridgekeeper traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Bridge

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishBridgeOS grid ref TR1854. Recorded as Brige in 1086 (DB), from
2Middle EnglishbriggeA bridge
3Old Norsebryggjapier, gangway
4Proto-Germanicbrewwanąto brew
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰrewh₁-to boil; to brew
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰer-to bear, carry

via English keeper

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishkeeperOne who keeps something; A person or thing worth...
2Middle Englishkepere—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰer- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰrewh₁- →Every word from Proto-Germanic brewwaną →