Where does “gore” come from?

Gore comes from Middle English gore, derived from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰayso-, a root of uncertain meaning that underwent various phonetic transformations across multiple Middle English suffixed forms.

gore (English): Blood, especially that from a wound when...

Definitions

  1. Blood, especially that from a wound when...

Ancestry of “gore”, step by step

gore traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Middle English gor

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishgorAlternative form of gore; Alternative form of...
2Old Englishgārspear, dart, javelin, shaft, arrow, weapon, arms
3Proto-West Germanicgaiʀspear
4Proto-Germanicgaizazspear, pike, javelin
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰoysósthrowing spear
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰey-winter

via Middle English gorre

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishgorreAlternative form of gore; mud, muck
2Middle EnglishgoreA triangle-shaped plot of land; a gore; A...
3Old Englishgordirt, dung, faeces
4Proto-GermanicgurąHalf-digested stomach contents; manure; dung;...
5Proto-Indo-Europeangʷʰer-warm, hot
6Proto-Indo-Europeangʷʰe-gʷʰór-e ~ gʷʰe-gʷʰr-ḗr

Words derived from “gore

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰey-