Where does “Leuchtkäfer” come from?

Leuchtkäfer (German) comes from German leuchten, from Old High German liuhten, from Proto-West Germanic liuhtijan, from Proto-Germanic liuhtijaną, from Proto-Indo-European lewḱ-, from Proto-Indo-European lewk- — bright; to shine; to see.

Leuchtkäfer (German): glowworm

Definitions

  1. glowworm

Ancestry of “Leuchtkäfer”, step by step

Leuchtkäfer traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German leuchten

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanleuchtento shine
2Old High Germanliuhten—
3Proto-West Germanicliuhtijanto shine, to illuminate
4Proto-Germanicliuhtijanąto give light, shine
5Proto-Indo-Europeanlewḱ-lynx
6Proto-Indo-Europeanlewk-bright; to shine; to see

via German Käfer

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanKäferbeetle; young girl, wench; Volkswagen Type 1...
2Middle High Germankëvere—
3Old High Germanchevar—
4Proto-West Germanickefrōbeetle
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewk- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewḱ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic liuhtijaną →