Where does “windhover” come from?
windhover (English) comes from English wind, from English farm, from Middle English ferme, from Old French ferme, from Medieval Latin ferma, from Latin Firma, from Latin Firmus, from Proto-Italic fermos — to support; to hold.
windhover (English): The common kestrel
Definitions
- The common kestrel
Ancestry of “windhover”, step by step
windhover traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English wind
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | wind | Real or perceived movement of atmospheric air... |
| 2 | English | farm | A place where agricultural and similar activities... |
| 3 | Middle English | ferme | A lease; the renting of land |
| 4 | Old French | ferme | lease; the land leased; farm |
| 5 | Medieval Latin | ferma | Alternative form of firma |
| 6 | Latin | Firma | tax, tribute |
| 7 | Latin | Firmus | strong, powerful |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | fermos | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰer-mo-s | holding |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰer- | to support; to hold |
via English hover
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | hover | To float in the air; To linger or hang in one... |
| 2 | Middle English | hoveren | hover |
| 3 | Middle English | hoven | to linger, wait, hover, move aside, entertain,... |
| 4 | Old English | hōfian | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | hufōną | to house, lodge |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | hufą | hill, elevated place; house, hall, estate |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | keup- | to arch, bend, buckle; a hollow |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | keu- | bend; vault, hole; to shine; light; bright |