Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “lairy” come from?

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

lairy (English): Touchy, aggressive or confrontational, usually...

Definitions

  1. Touchy, aggressive or confrontational, usually...

Ancestry of “lairy”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishleeryCautious, suspicious, wary, hesitant, or nervous...
2EnglishleerTo look sideways or obliquely; now especially...
3Middle Englishlereempty; Alternative form of lore
4Old Englishlārteaching; doctrine; lore, learning, science, art...
5Proto-West Germaniclaiʀu—
6Proto-Germaniclaizōteaching; lore; doctrine
7Proto-Germaniclaizijanąto teach
8Proto-Indo-Europeanloyséyeti—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanleysto trace; to track

Words derived from “lairy”

  • lairiser
  • lairiness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European leys →