Where does “Auftragsmörder” come from?

Auftragsmörder (German) comes from German Mörder, from Middle High German morder, from Old High German murdiro, from Proto-Germanic murþrijô, from Proto-Indo-European mrtro-, from Proto-Indo-European mer- — to die; to disappear; sea, lake, wetland.

Auftragsmörder (German): A contract killer, hitman male or of unspecified gender (e.g., paid by mobsters to assassinate any designated target)

Definitions

  1. A contract killer, hitman male or of unspecified gender (e.g., paid by mobsters to assassinate any designated target)

Ancestry of “Auftragsmörder”, step by step

Auftragsmörder traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German Mörder

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanMördermurderer, assassin, assassinator, cutthroat,...
2Middle High Germanmorder
3Old High Germanmurdiro
4Proto-Germanicmurþrijômurderer; homicide
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmrtro-murder, death; killing
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmer-to die; to disappear; sea, lake, wetland

via German Auftrag

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanAuftragassignment, job, mission; order, instructions
2Germanauftragento assign; to wear until damaged; to apply some...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mer-Every word from Proto-Indo-European mrtro-Every word from Proto-Germanic murþrijô