Where does “keyholder” come from?

keyholder (English) comes from English Hölder, from English -er, from Middle English -er, from Old French -er, from Latin -āre, from Proto-Italic -āō, from Proto-Indo-European -eh₂yéti, from Proto-Indo-European -yéti — he, she.

keyholder (English): One who holds the key to a building etc. for...

Definitions

  1. One who holds the key to a building etc. for...

Ancestry of “keyholder”, step by step

keyholder traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Hölder

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishHölderA thing that holds
2English-erA person or thing that does an action indicated...
3Middle English-eragentive suffix; agent noun suffix
4Old French-erAlternative form of -ier, verbal suffix;...
5Latin-ārefirst conjugation
6Proto-Italic-āōForms primarily denominative verbs
7Proto-Indo-European-eh₂yétiCreates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive...
8Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-
10Chichewaiyehe, she

via English key

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishkeyAn object designed to open and close a lock; An...
2EnglishcayA small, low island largely made of sand or coral
3SpanishCayokey island
4Taínocayosmall island
Every word from Chichewa iyeEvery word from English -erEvery word from Proto-Indo-European -yéti