Where does “shrewd” come from?

shrewd (English) comes from Middle English schrewed, from Middle English schrewe, from Old English sċrēawa, from Proto-Germanic skrawwaz, from Proto-Indo-European sḱer- — to caw, crow.

shrewd (English): Showing clever resourcefulness in practical...

Definitions

  1. Showing clever resourcefulness in practical...

Ancestry of “shrewd”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishschreweddepraved; wicked
2Middle Englishschrewebarn mouse, shrew, evil person
3Old Englishsċrēawashrew
4Proto-Germanicskrawwazthin; meagre; frail
5Proto-Indo-Europeansḱer-to caw, crow

Words derived from “shrewd”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European sḱer- →Every word from Proto-Germanic skrawwaz →Every word from Old English sċrēawa →