Where does “whitethroat” come from?

whitethroat (English) comes from English throat, from Middle English throte, from Old English þrote, from Old English þrota, from Proto-Germanic þrutǭ, from Proto-Indo-European ster- — sterile, infertile.

whitethroat (English): "Sylvia communis", a species of typical warbler

Definitions

  1. "Sylvia communis", a species of typical warbler

Ancestry of “whitethroat”, step by step

whitethroat traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English throat

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishthroatThe front part of the neck; The gullet or...
2Middle Englishthrotethroat
3Old Englishþrotethroat
4Old Englishþrota—
5Proto-Germanicþrutǭswell
6Proto-Indo-Europeanster-sterile, infertile

via English white

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwhiteBright and colourless; reflecting equal...
2Middle Englishwhitwhite, pale, light; wearing white clothes; having...
3Old Englishhwītwhite
4Proto-West Germanichwītwhite
5Proto-Germanichwītazwhite
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱweytosbright; shine; shine; bright
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ster- →Every word from Proto-Germanic þrutǭ →Every word from Old English þrota →