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
- To struggle; kick or tumble about, as to get free
Ancestry of “tervy”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | tervien | — |
| 2 | Old English | tyrfian | to cast down, tumble, fall |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | tirbijaną | — |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | derbʰ- | to spin, to twist |