Where does “burthen” come from?
Burthen comes from Old French bordon, which derives from Old French bourde, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European bʰer-, the root meaning "to carry" or "to bear."
burthen (English): The tonnage of a ship based on the number of tuns...
Definitions
- The tonnage of a ship based on the number of tuns...
Ancestry of “burthen”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | burden | A heavy load; A responsibility, onus; A cause of... |
| 2 | Middle English | burden | Alternative form of borden; plural of burde |
| 3 | Old English | byrden | — |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | burþini | burden |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | burþī | burden |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | burþį̄ | burden |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰēr- | shiny, light brown |