Where does “Dreckkerl” come from?

Dreckkerl (German) comes from German Dreck, from Middle High German drëc, from Old High German drec, from Proto-Germanic þrakjaz, from Proto-Indo-European (s)terǵ- — a type of bird; manure, dung; to sully, decay.

Ancestry of “Dreckkerl”, step by step

Dreckkerl traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German Dreck

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanDreckdirt; filth; excrement, faeces
2Middle High Germandrëc—
3Old High Germandrec—
4Proto-Germanicþrakjazdirt
5Proto-Indo-European(s)terǵ-a type of bird; manure, dung; to sully, decay

via German kerl

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germankerlfellow, guy, chap, bloke
2Middle Low Germankerl—
3Proto-Germanickarilazfree man, franklin; little man, young man
4Proto-Germanickaraz—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵerh₂-to grow old, to mature
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)terǵ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic þrakjaz →Every word from Old High German drec →