Etymology Explorer › English

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

  1. A fight or duel using swords

Ancestry of “swordfight”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishswordA long-bladed weapon with a hilt, and usually a...
2Middle Englishswordsword, sabre; Military might or power
3Old EnglishswordAlternative form of sweord
4Old Englishsweorda sword
5Proto-Germanicswerdąsword
6Proto-Indo-Europeanswēr-heavy
Every word from Proto-Indo-European swēr- →