Where does “crayfish” come from?
Crayfish derives from Middle English crevis, from Old French crevice, from Frankish krabitjō, from Proto-West Germanic krabit, from Proto-Germanic krabitaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots related to grebʰ- and gerbʰ-.
crayfish (English): Any of numerous freshwater decapod crustaceans in...
Definitions
- Any of numerous freshwater decapod crustaceans in...
Ancestry of “crayfish”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | crevis | crayfish, lobster |
| 2 | Old French | crevice | crayfish, crawfish |
| 3 | Old High German | krebiz | edible crustacean, crab |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | krabit | crustacean |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | krabitaz | crustacean |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | grebʰ- | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ger- | to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind... |