Where does “southpaw” come from?

southpaw (English) comes from English South, from French sud, from Middle French sud, from Old French sud, from Old English sūþ, from Proto-Germanic sunþrą, from Proto-Indo-European sóh₂wl̥ — sun.

southpaw (English): One who is left-handed, especially in sports; A...

Definitions

  1. One who is left-handed, especially in sports; A...

Ancestry of “southpaw”, step by step

southpaw traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English South

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishSouthAny of various particular regions named for the cardinal direction in which they lie
2Frenchsudsouth
3Middle Frenchsudsouth
4Old Frenchsudsouth
5Old Englishsūþsouth
6Proto-Germanicsunþrąsouth; south, southward
7Proto-Indo-Europeansóh₂wl̥sun

via English paw

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpawThe soft foot of a mammal or other animal,...
2Middle Englishpawepaw; claw, talon; rough, vicious hand
3Old Frenchpoue—
4Frankishpōta—
5Proto-Germanicputōnąto stick, stab, poke; to push
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbud-to shoot, sprout; to swell

Words derived from “southpaw”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European sóh₂wl̥ →Every word from Proto-Germanic sunþrą →Every word from Old English sūþ →