Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “thew” come from?

thew (English) comes from Middle English thew, from Old English þēow, from Proto-Germanic þewaz, from Proto-Indo-European tekwos, from Proto-Indo-European tekʷ- — to run, to flow.

thew (English): A bondman; a slave; Bond; servile; To oppress;...

Definitions

  1. A bondman; a slave; Bond; servile; To oppress;...

Ancestry of “thew”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishthewthrall
2Old Englishþēowservant; servant; minister; slave
3Proto-Germanicþewazslave, servant
4Proto-Indo-Europeantekwosrunner
5Proto-Indo-Europeantekʷ-to run, to flow

Words derived from “thew”

  • thewed
  • thewy
  • thewness
  • thewsome
Every word from Proto-Indo-European tekʷ- →