Where does “half-breed” come from?
half-breed (English) comes from English half, from Middle English half, from Old English healf, from Proto-Germanic *halb, from Proto-Germanic halbaz, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kelH-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kel- — to bend, crook; bent, crooked; leg, heel, knee,...
half-breed (English): A person of mixed racial parentage or ancestry,...
Definitions
- A person of mixed racial parentage or ancestry,...
Ancestry of “half-breed”, step by step
half-breed traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English half
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | half | Consisting of a half; Consisting of some... |
| 2 | Middle English | half | half |
| 3 | Old English | healf | side; half; partly |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | *halb | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | halbaz | half |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)kelH- | to cut; to split, to separate |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)kel- | to bend, crook; bent, crooked; leg, heel, knee,... |
via English breed
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | breed | To produce offspring sexually; to bear young; To... |
| 2 | Middle English | breden | Alternative form of breiden; to make broad;... |
| 3 | Old English | brēdan | to bear offspring |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | brōdijaną | To keep warm; brood; To breed |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰreh₁- | warm; breath, mist, vapour, steam |