Where does “feed” come from?

Feed derives from Middle English feede, Old English fēdan, and Proto-Germanic fōdijaną, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root peh₂- meaning to protect or nourish.

feed (English): To give food to eat; To eat; To give to as...

Definitions

  1. To give food to eat; To eat; To give to as...

Ancestry of “feed”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Galicianfedenthird-person plural present indicative of feder
2Old Englishfēdanto feed
3Proto-West Germanic*fōdijanto feed
4Proto-Germanicfōdijanąto feed; to give birth
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₂-to protect; to shepherd

Words derived from “feed”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₂- →
feed — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer