Where does “sow” come from?
Sow descends from Middle English sowe, Old English sāwan, Proto-Germanic sēaną, and ultimately Proto-Indo-European roots sew-, sewH-, suH-, and seh₁-, tracing back to an ancient root meaning to scatter or spread.
sow (English): A female pig; A female bear, she-bear; A female...
Definitions
- A female pig; A female bear, she-bear; A female...
Ancestry of “sow”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | sowe | A female pig; A siege engine used to protect... |
| 2 | Old English | sūgu | — |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | *sugu | — |