Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “sword” come from?

Sword derives from Middle English swerd, from Old English sweard, from Proto-Germanic swarduz, from Proto-Indo-European swer-, a root of uncertain original meaning.

sword (English): A long-bladed weapon with a hilt, and usually a...

Definitions

  1. A long-bladed weapon with a hilt, and usually a...

Ancestry of “sword”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishswordsword, sabre; Military might or power
2Old EnglishswordAlternative form of sweord
3Old Englishsweorda sword
4Proto-Germanicswerdąsword
5Proto-Indo-Europeanswēr-heavy

Words derived from “sword”

  • swords
  • swordsman
  • broadsword
  • swordsmanship
  • swordplay
  • longsword
  • sworded
  • swordless
  • swordlike
  • swordfight
  • shortsword
  • greatsword
  • swordsmith
  • backsword
  • swordpoint
  • swordbelt
  • swordstick
  • swordmaster
  • swordbearer
  • swordtail
  • sworder
  • swordswoman
  • silversword
  • sellsword
Every word from Proto-Indo-European swēr- →