Where does “stark” come from?

Stark comes from Middle English stark, from Old English stearc, from Proto-Germanic starkaz, from Proto-Indo-European (s)terg-, meaning to stiffen or become rigid.

stark (English): Hard, firm; obdurate; Severe; violent; fierce;...

Definitions

  1. Hard, firm; obdurate; Severe; violent; fierce;...

Ancestry of “stark”, step by step

stark traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Middle English stark

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishstark—
2Old Englishstearcsevere, stern, harsh; stiff, rigid, not bending,...
3Proto-West Germanicstarkstiff, stark
4Proto-Germanicstarkaz—
5Proto-Indo-European(s)terg-to be stiff; rigid; rigid, stiff

via Middle English starc

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishstarc—
2Old Englishstarcstiff, obstinate, severe, etc
3Proto-Germanicstarkuzstiff; rigid; strong
4Proto-Germanicsterkanąto become stiff, stiffen
5Proto-Indo-Europeansterg-rigid, stiff; to love
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)terg- →