Where does “Degen” come from?

Degen (German) comes from Old High German degan, from Proto-West Germanic þegn, from Proto-Germanic þegnaz, from Proto-Indo-European teḱ- — to sire, beget.

Degen (German): dagger; rapier, smallsword; épée

Definitions

  1. dagger; rapier, smallsword; épée

Ancestry of “Degen”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old High Germandeganretainer, thane, warrior
2Proto-West Germanicþegnretainer, follower, servant
3Proto-Germanicþegnazretainer, servant
4Proto-Indo-Europeanteḱ-to sire, beget
Every word from Proto-Indo-European teḱ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic þegnaz →Every word from Proto-West Germanic þegn →