Where does “roughleg” come from?

roughleg (English) comes from English rough, from English ruff, from German Ruf, from Middle High German ruof, from Old High German ruof, from Old High German ruofan, from Proto-West Germanic hrōpan, from Proto-Germanic hrōpaną — army.

roughleg (English): "Buteo lagopus", a bird of prey

Definitions

  1. "Buteo lagopus", a bird of prey

Ancestry of “roughleg”, step by step

roughleg traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English rough

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishroughNot smooth; uneven; Approximate; hasty or...
2EnglishruffA circular frill or ruffle on a garment,...
3GermanRufcall; reputation
4Middle High Germanruof
5Old High Germanruof
6Old High Germanruofanto call
7Proto-West Germanichrōpanto cry out, to call, to shout
8Proto-Germanichrōpanąto cry out, call, shout
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱer-to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,...
10Proto-Indo-Europeankr̥-to turn, to bend
11Proto-Indo-Europeanker-army

via English leg

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlegA limb or appendage that an animal uses for...
2Middle Englishlegleg, limb; shank, shin; leg
3Old Norseleggrleg, stem
4Proto-Germaniclagjazleg, thigh
5Proto-Indo-European(ǝ)lak-
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ker-Every word from Proto-Indo-European kr̥-Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱer-
roughleg — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer