Where does “stair” come from?

Stair comes from Middle English steire, from Old English stǣġer, from Proto-Germanic staigriz, from Proto-Indo-European steygʰ-, meaning to climb or step.

stair (English): A single step in a staircase; A series of steps;...

Definitions

  1. A single step in a staircase; A series of steps;...

Ancestry of “stair”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishsteirestaircase, stairs; stair, step; ladder
2Old Englishstǣġerstair, staircase
3Proto-Germanicstaigrizscaffold, platform; stairs
4Proto-Indo-Europeansteyǵʰ-to go

Words derived from “stair

Every word from Proto-Indo-European steyǵʰ-
stair — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer