Where does “sheathbill” come from?
sheathbill (English) comes from English sheath, from English sheathe, from Middle English shethen, from Middle English sheth, from Old English sċēaþ, from Proto-West Germanic skaiþiju, from Proto-Germanic skaiþiz, from Proto-Indo-European sḱēy- — to cut, part, spearate, divide; to cut, part,...
sheathbill (English): Either of two species of scavenging birds in the...
Definitions
- Either of two species of scavenging birds in the...
Ancestry of “sheathbill”, step by step
sheathbill traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English sheath
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | sheath | A holster for a sword; a scabbard; Anything that... |
| 2 | English | sheathe | To put into a sheath; To encase with a... |
| 3 | Middle English | shethen | to put into a sheath, sheathe; to provide with a... |
| 4 | Middle English | sheth | — |
| 5 | Old English | sċēaþ | sheath |
| 6 | Proto-West Germanic | skaiþiju | sheath |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | skaiþiz | sheath, covering |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | sḱēy- | to shine; to shimmer; shadow; luster, gloss,... |
| 9 | Proto-Germanic | skaidą | separation, distinction |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | skÁit- | to cut, part, spearate, divide; to cut, part,... |
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 |