Where does “water hen” come from?

water hen (English) comes from English water, from Middle English water, from Old English wæter, from Proto-West Germanic watar, from Proto-Germanic watōr, from Proto-Indo-European wódr̥, from Proto-Indo-European wed-, from Proto-Indo-European wey- — to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;...

water hen (English): The moorhen

Definitions

  1. The moorhen

Ancestry of “water hen”, step by step

water hen traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English water

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwaterA substance found at room temperature and...
2Middle Englishwaterwater; water vapour, condensation; lake, pond,...
3Old Englishwæterwater
4Proto-West Germanicwatarwater
5Proto-Germanicwatōrwater
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwódr̥water
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwed-water
8Proto-Indo-Europeanwey-to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;...

via English hen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishhenA female chicken (Gallus gallus), especially a sexually mature one kept for her eggs
2Middle Englishhenhen, chicken; female bird
3Old Englishhennhen
4Proto-West Germanic*hannjuhen
5Proto-Germanichanjōhen
6Proto-Indo-Europeankeh₂n-to sing
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wey-Every word from Proto-Indo-European wed-Every word from Proto-Indo-European wódr̥
water hen — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer