Where does “fatherland” come from?
fatherland (English) comes from English father, from Middle English fader, from Old English fæder, from Proto-West Germanic fader, from Proto-Germanic fadēr, from Proto-Indo-European ph₂tḗr, from Proto-Indo-European peh₂- — to protect; to shepherd.
fatherland (English): The country of one's ancestors; The country of...
Definitions
- The country of one's ancestors; The country of...
Ancestry of “fatherland”, step by step
fatherland traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English father
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | father | A male who begets a child; A male ancestor more... |
| 2 | Middle English | fader | A father; the male direct ancestor of someone or... |
| 3 | Old English | fæder | father |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | fader | father |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | fadēr | father |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ph₂tḗr | father |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | peh₂- | to protect; to shepherd |