Where does “sowgelder” come from?
sowgelder (English) comes from English sow, from Middle English sowe, from Old English sūgu, from Proto-West Germanic *sugu — sow.
sowgelder (English): One who spays sows
Definitions
- One who spays sows
Ancestry of “sowgelder”, step by step
sowgelder traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English sow
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | sow | A female pig; A female bear, she-bear; A female... |
| 2 | Middle English | sowe | A female pig; A siege engine used to protect... |
| 3 | Old English | sūgu | sow (female pig) |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *sugu | sow |
via English gelder
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | gelder | One who gelds or castrates |