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
- Showing clever resourcefulness in practical...
Ancestry of “shrewd”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | schrewed | depraved; wicked |
| 2 | Middle English | schrewe | barn mouse, shrew, evil person |
| 3 | Old English | sċrēawa | — |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | skrawwaz | thin; meagre; frail |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | sḱer- | to caw, crow |
Words derived from “shrewd”