Where does “yeomanry” come from?
Yeomanry derives from English yeoman, from Middle English yoman, from Old English ġēamann, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂ekʷeh₂ meaning sharp or keen.
yeomanry (English): A class of small freeholders who cultivated their...
Definitions
- A class of small freeholders who cultivated their...
Ancestry of “yeomanry”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | yeoman | An official providing honorable service in a... |
| 2 | Middle English | yeman | A subordinate, deputy, or hireling |
| 3 | Old English | ġēamann | yeoman |
| 4 | Old English | ġē | ye |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | jahw | and, also |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | -hw | and; Forms distributives from interrogatives |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | -hwe | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -kʷe | and; Forms distributives from interrogatives |