Where does “stiltbird” come from?

stiltbird (English) comes from English stilt, from Middle English stilte, from Old English stilte, from Proto-Germanic stiltijǭ, from Proto-Germanic stelt- — to be stiff.

stiltbird (English): The stilt, a wading bird

Definitions

  1. The stilt, a wading bird

Ancestry of “stiltbird”, step by step

stiltbird traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English stilt

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishstiltEither of two poles with footrests that allow...
2Middle Englishstilte—
3Old Englishstilte—
4Proto-Germanicstiltijǭ—
5Proto-Germanicstelt-to be stiff

via English bird

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbirdA member of the class of animals Aves in the...
2Middle Englishbrida young bird, a bird in general; Alternative form...
3Old Englishbriddyoung bird, chick; chicken
Every word from Proto-Germanic stelt- →