Where does “ern” come from?

Ern is an English word derived from Old English irnan, which comes from Proto-Germanic rinnaną, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₃er-.

ern (English): To run; flow

Definitions

  1. To run; flow

Ancestry of “ern”, step by step

ern traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Middle English ernen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishernenTo earn to accrue or receive payments
2Old EnglishirnanAlternative form of rinnan; to run
3Old Englishrinnanto run
4Proto-West Germanic*rinnanto run, to flow
5Proto-Germanicrinnanąto run, to rush; to flow
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃ér-to move, to stir

via English erne

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglisherneA sea eagle (Haliaeetus), especially the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)
2Middle Englisherneagle bird of prey
3Old Englishearneagle
4Proto-Germanicarôeagle
5Proto-Indo-Europeaner-eagle, bird; loose, light, rare, sparse; to fail,...

Words derived from “ern”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃ér- →Every word from Proto-Germanic rinnaną →Every word from Proto-West Germanic *rinnan →