Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “sheartail” come from?

sheartail (English) comes from English shear, from Middle English schyre, from Old English sċīr, from Old English burna, from Proto-West Germanic brunnō, from Proto-Germanic brunnô, from Proto-Indo-European bʰréh₁wr̥, from Proto-Indo-European bʰrewh₁- — to bear, carry.

sheartail (English): The common tern, "Sterna hirundo"; A hummingbird...

Definitions

  1. The common tern, "Sterna hirundo"; A hummingbird...

Ancestry of “sheartail”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishshearTo cut, originally with a sword or other bladed...
2Middle EnglishschyreAlternative form of shire; bright, shimmering,...
3Old Englishsċīrbright; shire; county
4Old Englishburnastream
5Proto-West Germanicbrunnōwell, spring
6Proto-Germanicbrunnôsource; wellspring; fountain; brook; stream;...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰréh₁wr̥well, spring, source
8Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰrewh₁-to boil; to brew
9Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰer-to bear, carry
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰer- →