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

Definitions

  1. A rascal; a scoundrel

Ancestry of “shreward”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishshrewAny of numerous small, mouselike, chiefly...
2Middle EnglishschrewenTo curse
3Middle Englishschrewebarn mouse, shrew, evil person
4Old Englishsċrēawashrew
5Proto-Germanicskrawwazthin; meagre; frail
6Proto-Indo-Europeansḱer-to caw, crow
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sḱer- →Every word from Proto-Germanic skrawwaz →Every word from Old English sċrēawa →
shreward — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer