Where does “Pfauenschweif” come from?

Pfauenschweif (German) comes from German Pfau, from Middle English pawe, from Old French poue, from Frankish pōta, from Proto-Germanic putōną, from Proto-Indo-European bud- — to shoot, sprout; to swell.

Pfauenschweif (German): peacock's tail

Definitions

  1. peacock's tail

Ancestry of “Pfauenschweif”, step by step

Pfauenschweif traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German Pfau

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanPfaupeacock; the constellation Pavo
2Middle Englishpawepaw; claw, talon; rough, vicious hand
3Old Frenchpoue—
4Frankishpōta—
5Proto-Germanicputōnąto stick, stab, poke; to push
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbud-to shoot, sprout; to swell

via German Schweif

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanSchweiftail
2Middle High Germansweif—
3Old High Germansweif—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bud- →Every word from Proto-Germanic putōną →Every word from Frankish pōta →