Where does “redshirt” come from?

redshirt (English) comes from English red, from Middle English red, from Old English rēad, from Proto-West Germanic raud, from Proto-Germanic raudaz, from Proto-Indo-European h₁rowdʰós, from Proto-Indo-European h₁rewdʰ- — red.

redshirt (English): an athlete who spends a year not participating in...

Definitions

  1. an athlete who spends a year not participating in...

Ancestry of “redshirt”, step by step

redshirt traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English red

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishredHaving red as its color; Having an orange-brown...
2Middle Englishredred, crimson, scarlet; red pigment; reddened,...
3Old Englishrēadred
4Proto-West Germanicraudred
5Proto-Germanicraudazred
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁rowdʰósred thing
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁rewdʰ-red

via English shirt

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishshirtAn article of clothing that is worn on the upper...
2Middle EnglishschirteAlternative form of sherte
3Old Englishsċyrtea short garment; skirt; kirtle
4Proto-West Germanicskurtijāskirt, apron
5Proto-Germanicskurtijǭskirt, apron
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁rewdʰ-Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁rowdʰósEvery word from Proto-Germanic raudaz
redshirt — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer