Where does “netherwear” come from?

netherwear (English) comes from English nether, from English nither, from Middle English nitheren, from Old English niþerian, from Old English niþer, from Proto-Germanic niþer, from Proto-Indo-European niter.

netherwear (English): Clothing worn underneath; underwear;...

Definitions

  1. Clothing worn underneath; underwear;...

Ancestry of “netherwear”, step by step

netherwear traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English nether

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishnetherLower; under; Lying beneath, or conceived as...
2EnglishnitherAlternative form of nether
3Middle Englishnitheren
4Old Englishniþerianto depress, abase, bring low, humiliate, oppress,...
5Old Englishniþerdown; downstairs
6Proto-Germanicniþerdown, downwards
7Proto-Indo-Europeanniter

via English Wear

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishWearThe cities of Durham and Sunderland are situated upon its grand banks
2Middle EnglishwerenPlural past indicative form of been; Plural...
3Old Englishwerianto wear; to defend, protect
4Proto-West Germanicwaʀjanto clothe
5Proto-Germanicwarjanąto ward off, to defend against; to thwart, to...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwēr-true
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel
Every word from Proto-Indo-European niterEvery word from Proto-Germanic niþerEvery word from Old English niþer