Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “firn” come from?

firn (English) comes from German firn, from Alemannic German firn, from Old High German firni, from Proto-Germanic fernaz, from Proto-Indo-European perHm-, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.

firn (English): A type of old snow which has gone through...

Definitions

  1. A type of old snow which has gone through...

Ancestry of “firn”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanfirnaged
2Alemannic Germanfirnlast year's
3Old High Germanfirniold
4Proto-Germanicfernazforegoing, previous; recent, last-year
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanperHm-—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “firn”

  • firnification
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →