Where does “scree” come from?

scree (English) comes from English screes, from Old Norse skriða, from Proto-Germanic skrīþaną, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kreyt-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)ḱer- — dung, manure, filth; manure, dung, filth.

scree (English): Loose stony debris on a slope; Similar debris...

Definitions

  1. Loose stony debris on a slope; Similar debris...

Ancestry of “scree”, step by step

scree traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English screes

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishscreesplural of scree
2Old Norseskriðalandslide, landslip
3Proto-Germanicskrīþanąto walk, glide, crawl
4Proto-Indo-European(s)kreyt-to wind; twist; bend
5Proto-Indo-European(s)ḱer-dung, manure, filth; manure, dung, filth

via Old English screon

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishscreonto cry out, proclaim
2Proto-Germanicskrīhanąto shout, scream; to cry out, proclaim
3Proto-Indo-European(s)kerey-to scream, screech; to scream, caw

Words derived from “scree”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)ḱer- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)kreyt- →Every word from Proto-Germanic skrīþaną →