Where does “deerslayer” come from?
deerslayer (English) comes from English deer, from Middle English der, from Old English dēor, from Proto-West Germanic deuʀ, from Proto-Germanic deuzą, from Proto-Indo-European dʰewsóm, from Proto-Indo-European dʰéws, from Proto-Indo-European dʰwes- — to breathe; breath; spirit, soul > creature.
deerslayer (English): One who kills deer
Definitions
- One who kills deer
Ancestry of “deerslayer”, step by step
deerslayer traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English deer
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | deer | a ruminant mammal with antlers and hooves of the... |
| 2 | Middle English | der | A wild animal especially a mammal or quadruped |
| 3 | Old English | dēor | animal, beast |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | deuʀ | animal, beast |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | deuzą | animal, beast |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰewsóm | living thing |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰéws | breath |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰwes- | to breathe; breath; spirit, soul > creature |
via English slayer
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | slayer | a killer; a murderer; someone who slays |
| 2 | Middle English | slear | — |
| 3 | Old English | slaga | a killer, a murderer, a slayer |
| 4 | Old English | slēan | to hit, strike, slay; to strike, beat, smite; to... |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | slahan | to hit, to strike; to kill |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | slahaną | to hit, to strike; to kill |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | slak- | to hit; strike; to hit, strike, throw; to hit,... |