Where does “derf” come from?
derf (English) comes from Middle English derf, from Old English dearf, from Proto-Germanic derbaz, from Proto-Germanic derbaną, from Proto-Indo-European dʰerHbʰ- — to work, perish, die.
derf (English): strong; powerful; fierce
Ancestry of “derf”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | derf | bold, daring, strong |
| 2 | Old English | dearf | — |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | derbaz | bold, determined, strong |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | derbaną | to work; to perish |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰerHbʰ- | to work, perish, die |