Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “nief” come from?

nief (English) comes from Middle English neve, from Old English nefa, from Proto-West Germanic nefō, from Proto-Germanic nefô, from Proto-Indo-European népōts — grandson; descendant; nephew.

nief (English): A serf or bondsman born into servitude; A fist

Definitions

  1. A serf or bondsman born into servitude; A fist

Ancestry of “nief”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishneveA nephew; One's offspring or descendants; A neve...
2Old Englishnefanephew; grandson; stepson
3Proto-West Germanicnefōgrandson
4Proto-Germanicnefônephew; grandson
5Proto-Indo-Europeannépōtsgrandson; descendant; nephew

Words derived from “nief”

  • nieve
  • nieveful
  • nieves
Every word from Proto-Indo-European népōts →