Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “lairlike” come from?

lairlike (English) comes from English lair, from English lairy, from English leery, from English leer, from Middle English lere, from Old English lār, from Proto-West Germanic laiʀu, from Proto-Germanic laizō — to trace; to track.

lairlike (English): Resembling or characteristic of a lair

Definitions

  1. Resembling or characteristic of a lair

Ancestry of “lairlike”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlairA place inhabited by a wild animal, often a cave...
2EnglishlairyTouchy, aggressive or confrontational, usually...
3EnglishleeryCautious, suspicious, wary, hesitant, or nervous...
4EnglishleerTo look sideways or obliquely; now especially...
5Middle Englishlereempty; Alternative form of lore
6Old Englishlārteaching; doctrine; lore, learning, science, art...
7Proto-West Germaniclaiʀu—
8Proto-Germaniclaizōteaching; lore; doctrine
9Proto-Germaniclaizijanąto teach
10Proto-Indo-Europeanloyséyeti—
11Proto-Indo-Europeanleysto trace; to track
Every word from Proto-Indo-European leys →