Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “jotun” come from?

jotun (English) comes from Old Norse jǫtunn, from Proto-Germanic etunaz, from Proto-Germanic etaną, from Proto-Indo-European h₁édti, from Proto-Indo-European h₁ed- — to eat.

jotun (English): A member of a race of giants who usually stand in...

Definitions

  1. A member of a race of giants who usually stand in...

Ancestry of “jotun”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norsejǫtunna jotun, giant
2Proto-Germanicetunazan overeater, glutton; a giant
3Proto-Germanicetanąto eat
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁édtito eat
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁ed-to eat
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁ed- →