Where does “swordfight” come from?
swordfight (English) comes from English sword, from Middle English sword, from Old English sword, from Old English sweord, from Proto-Germanic swerdą, from Proto-Indo-European swēr- — heavy.
swordfight (English): A fight or duel using swords
Definitions
- A fight or duel using swords
Ancestry of “swordfight”, step by step
swordfight traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English sword
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | sword | A long-bladed weapon with a hilt, and usually a... |
| 2 | Middle English | sword | sword, sabre; Military might or power |
| 3 | Old English | sword | Alternative form of sweord |
| 4 | Old English | sweord | a sword |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | swerdą | sword |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | swēr- | heavy |
via English fight
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | fight | To contend in physical conflict, either singly or... |
| 2 | Middle English | fighten | Simple past faght and past participle foghten... |
| 3 | Old English | feohtan | to fight |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | fehtan | to fight |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | fehtaną | to comb, detangle |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | peḱ- | to pluck; livestock; wealth |