Etymology Explorer › German

Where does “Geier” come from?

Geier (German) comes from Middle High German gīr, from Old High German gīr, from Old High German giri, from Proto-Germanic gernaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer- — to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines.

Geier (German): vulture

Definitions

  1. vulture

Ancestry of “Geier”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle High Germangīr—
2Old High Germangīrvulture
3Old High Germangirigreedy
4Proto-Germanicgernazeager, willing
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰer-to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines

Words derived from “Geier”

  • Königsgeier
  • Bartgeier
  • Mönchsgeier
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer- →