Where does “undersheriff” come from?

undersheriff (English) comes from English Sheriff, from Middle English shirreve, from Old English scīrġerēfa, from Old English sċīr, from Old English burna, from Proto-West Germanic brunnō, from Proto-Germanic brunnô, from Proto-Indo-European bʰréh₁wr̥ — to bear, carry.

undersheriff (English): In certain jurisdictions, a deputy sheriff;...

Definitions

  1. In certain jurisdictions, a deputy sheriff;...

Ancestry of “undersheriff”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishSheriff(High Sheriff) An official of a shire or county office, responsible for carrying out court orders, law enforcement and other duties
2Middle EnglishshirreveA sheriff; an individual responsible for a number...
3Old Englishscīrġerēfashire-reeve; sheriff
4Old Englishsċīrbright; shire; county
5Old Englishburnastream
6Proto-West Germanicbrunnōwell, spring
7Proto-Germanicbrunnôsource; wellspring; fountain; brook; stream;...
8Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰréh₁wr̥well, spring, source
9Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰrewh₁-to boil; to brew
10Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰer-to bear, carry
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰer-