Where does “Prachtkerl” come from?

Prachtkerl (German) comes from German pracht, from Middle High German braht, from Old High German braht, from Proto-Germanic brahtaz, from Proto-Germanic brekaną, from Proto-Indo-European bʰrēǵ- — to shine, shimmer.

Prachtkerl (German): handsome man, hunk

Definitions

  1. handsome man, hunk

Ancestry of “Prachtkerl”, step by step

Prachtkerl traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German pracht

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanprachtsplendor, resplendence, magnificence, pomp
2Middle High Germanbraht—
3Old High Germanbrahtnoice
4Proto-Germanicbrahtazcracking, snapping, crash, noise
5Proto-Germanicbrekanąto break
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰrēǵ-to shine, shimmer

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 bʰrēǵ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic brekaną →Every word from Proto-Germanic brahtaz →