Where does “heifer” come from?
Heifer comes from Middle English hayfare, from Old English heahfore, combining Old English heah (high) and fearr (bull calf), from Proto-Germanic farzaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to produce or grow.
heifer (English): A young female cow, one over one year old but...
Definitions
- A young female cow, one over one year old but...
Ancestry of “heifer”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | heyfre | — |
| 2 | Old English | heahfore | heifer |
| 3 | Old English | heah | high, tall; exalted, illustrious, important;... |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | hauh | high |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | hauhaz | high |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱewk- | flare up, glow; white; to glow, burn, lighten |
Words derived from “heifer”