Where does “nykur” come from?

nykur (Faroese) comes from Old Norse nykr, from Proto-Germanic nikwiz-, from Proto-Indo-European neygʷ- — to wash.

nykur (Faroese): a water-demon, the nixie, the nick

Definitions

  1. a water-demon, the nixie, the nick

Ancestry of “nykur”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norsenykra water-demon, the nixie, the nick; mostly appearing as a grey horse-like creature with inverted hoofs and forward fetlocks that emerges from lakes
2Proto-Germanicnikwiz-—
3Proto-Indo-Europeanneygʷ-to wash
Every word from Proto-Indo-European neygʷ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic nikwiz- →Every word from Old Norse nykr →
nykur — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer