Where does “tervy” come from?

tervy (English) comes from Middle English tervien, from Old English tyrfian, from Proto-Germanic tirbijaną, from Proto-Indo-European derbʰ- — to spin, to twist.

tervy (English): To struggle; kick or tumble about, as to get free

Definitions

  1. To struggle; kick or tumble about, as to get free

Ancestry of “tervy”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishtervien—
2Old Englishtyrfianto cast down, tumble, fall
3Proto-Germanictirbijaną—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanderbʰ-to spin, to twist
Every word from Proto-Indo-European derbʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic tirbijaną →Every word from Old English tyrfian →