Where does “shreward” come from?
shreward (English) comes from English shrew, from Middle English schrewen, from Middle English schrewe, from Old English sċrēawa, from Proto-Germanic skrawwaz, from Proto-Indo-European sḱer- — to caw, crow.
shreward (English): A rascal; a scoundrel
Ancestry of “shreward”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | shrew | Any of numerous small, mouselike, chiefly... |
| 2 | Middle English | schrewen | To curse |
| 3 | Middle English | schrewe | barn mouse, shrew, evil person |
| 4 | Old English | sċrēawa | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | skrawwaz | thin; meagre; frail |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | sḱer- | to caw, crow |