Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “goldcrest” come from?

goldcrest (English) comes from English crest, from Middle English creste, from Old French creste, from Vulgar Latin *cresta, from Latin crista, from Proto-Indo-European (s)ḱer- — dung, manure, filth; manure, dung, filth.

goldcrest (English): A very small passerine bird, "Regulus regulus",...

Definitions

  1. A very small passerine bird, "Regulus regulus",...

Ancestry of “goldcrest”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcrestThe summit of a hill or mountain ridge; A tuft,...
2Middle Englishcreste—
3Old Frenchcreste—
4Vulgar Latin*cresta—
5Latincristathe crest, the plume; the comb or tuft on the...
6Proto-Indo-European(s)ḱer-dung, manure, filth; manure, dung, filth
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)ḱer- →