Where does “shorebird” come from?

shorebird (English) comes from English shore, from Middle English shore, from Middle Dutch schore, from Proto-Germanic skuriz, from Proto-Germanic skeraną, from Proto-Indo-European sḱer- — to caw, crow.

shorebird (English): A bird, or species of birds, that is found near...

Definitions

  1. A bird, or species of birds, that is found near...

Ancestry of “shorebird”, step by step

shorebird traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English shore

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishshoreLand adjoining a non-flowing body of water, such...
2Middle Englishshorea prop; support
3Middle Dutchschoreshore; crack, rip, tear
4Proto-Germanicskuriz—
5Proto-Germanicskeranąto shear
6Proto-Indo-Europeansḱer-to caw, crow

via English bird

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbirdA member of the class of animals Aves in the...
2Middle Englishbrida young bird, a bird in general; Alternative form...
3Old Englishbriddyoung bird, chick; chicken
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sḱer- →Every word from Proto-Germanic skeraną →Every word from Proto-Germanic skuriz →