Where does “shearbill” come from?
shearbill (English) comes from English Bill, from Middle English bill, from Old English bil, from Frankish billi, from Proto-Germanic bilją, from Proto-Germanic harjaz, from Proto-Indo-European kóryos, from Proto-Indo-European ḱer- — army.
shearbill (English): A seabird, the black skimmer
Definitions
- A seabird, the black skimmer
Ancestry of “shearbill”, step by step
shearbill traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Bill
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Bill | A nickname for the British constabulary. Often called "The Bill" or "Old Bill" |
| 2 | Middle English | bill | — |
| 3 | Old English | bil | a kind of sword or other bladed weapon,... |
| 4 | Frankish | billi | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | bilją | a cutting implement; blade; axe; sword; spike;... |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | harjaz | army; army leader; commander; warrior |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | kóryos | war; troops; army; war, troops |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱer- | to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,... |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | kr̥- | to turn, to bend |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | ker- | army |
via English shear
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | shear | To cut, originally with a sword or other bladed... |
| 2 | Middle English | schyre | Alternative form of shire; bright, shimmering,... |
| 3 | Old English | sċīr | bright; shire; county |
| 4 | Old English | burna | stream |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | brunnō | well, spring |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | brunnô | source; wellspring; fountain; brook; stream;... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰréh₁wr̥ | well, spring, source |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰrewh₁- | to boil; to brew |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰer- | to bear, carry |