Where does “byfellow” come from?

byfellow (English) comes from English by, from Middle English by, from Old English bī, from Proto-West Germanic bī, from Proto-Germanic bi, from Proto-Indo-European h₂m̥bʰi, from Proto-Indo-European h₂n̥tbʰi, from Proto-Indo-European h₂énts — on, onto.

byfellow (English): A fellow of a college not on the foundation, and...

Definitions

  1. A fellow of a college not on the foundation, and...

Ancestry of “byfellow”, step by step

byfellow traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English by

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbyNear or next to; From one side of something to...
2Middle Englishbybe
3Old Englishlullaby!; near, by; by, near, around
4Proto-West Germanicby, at; near, around
5Proto-Germanicbiby, at; near, around
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂m̥bʰiaround, on either side of, about; in exchange...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂n̥tbʰi
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éntsforehead; front
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ent-face; forehead; front
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂en-on, onto

via English fellow

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfellowA colleague or partner; A companion; a comrade; A...
2Middle EnglishfelaweA partner, friend, or colleague; one linked with...
3Old Englishfēolagacompanion, partner, colleague
4Old Norsefélagione with whom one has joined one's property;...
5Old Norsefélagfellowship, partnership
6Old Norsecattle; livestock; property, money
7Proto-Germanicfehulivestock, cattle; property; name of the F-rune
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpéḱulivestock
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpeḱ-to pluck; livestock; wealth
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂en-Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂ent-Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂énts