Where does “riimukirjain” come from?

riimukirjain (Finnish) comes from Finnish riimu, from Old Swedish grīma, from Proto-Germanic grīmô, from Proto-Indo-European gʰrēy-, from Proto-Indo-European gʰer- — to rub; to stroke; to grind.

riimukirjain (Finnish): rune

Definitions

  1. rune

Ancestry of “riimukirjain”, step by step

riimukirjain traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Finnish riimu

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Finnishriimuscratch; rune; chain
2Old Swedishgrīma—
3Proto-Germanicgrīmômask; visor; helmet
4Proto-Indo-Europeangʰrēy-to smear; to paint, streak, smear
5Proto-Indo-Europeangʰer-to rub; to stroke; to grind

via Finnish kirjain

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Finnishkirjainletter; Genitive plural form of kirja
2Finnishkirjatato book, log, register; to register
3Finnishkirjabook; quire
4Proto-Finnickirjadecoration, carving, pattern
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰer- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰrēy- →Every word from Proto-Germanic grīmô →
riimukirjain — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer