Where does “sicklebird” come from?
sicklebird (English) comes from English sickle, from Middle English sikel, from Old English sicol, from Proto-Germanic *sikilu, from Latin secula, from Latin secō, from Proto-Indo-European sek- — to cut, cut off, sever.
Ancestry of “sicklebird”, step by step
sicklebird traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English sickle
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | sickle | An implement having a semicircular blade and... |
| 2 | Middle English | sikel | A sickle tool for reaping grain |
| 3 | Old English | sicol | sickle |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | *sikilu | — |
| 5 | Latin | secula | a sickle; nominative plural of sēculum;... |
| 6 | Latin | secō | to cut, cut off |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | sek- | to cut, cut off, sever |