Where does “Leichenstarre” come from?

Leichenstarre (German) comes from German Leiche, from Middle High German līche, from Old High German līh, from Proto-West Germanic līk, from Proto-Germanic līką, from Proto-Indo-European leyǵ- — to bind, tie.

Leichenstarre (German): death-stiffness, rigor mortis

Definitions

  1. death-stiffness, rigor mortis

Ancestry of “Leichenstarre”, step by step

Leichenstarre traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German Leiche

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanLeichedead body, corpse
2Middle High Germanlīche
3Old High Germanlīhbody
4Proto-West Germaniclīkbody
5Proto-Germaniclīkąbody; corpse, dead body; leech-line, bolt-rope
6Proto-Indo-Europeanleyǵ-to bind, tie

via Middle English starre

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishstarre
2Old Norsestǫrra sedge
3Proto-Indo-Europeansterh₁-to streak, to strip; stiff; to be stiff
Every word from Proto-Indo-European leyǵ-