Where does “Putzfrau” come from?
Putzfrau (German) comes from German frau, from Middle High German vrouwe, from Old High German frouwa, from Proto-West Germanic *frauwjā, from Proto-Germanic frawjǭ, from Proto-Indo-European proHwo-, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.
Putzfrau (German): charwoman
Definitions
- charwoman
Ancestry of “Putzfrau”, step by step
Putzfrau traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via German frau
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | frau | one, they |
| 2 | Middle High German | vrouwe | woman, lady, madam |
| 3 | Old High German | frouwa | lady |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *frauwjā | lady, wife of a lord woman of high standing |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | frawjǭ | lady, wife of a lord |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | proHwo- | master, judge; right judge, master |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |
via German putzen
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | putzen | to clean, especially by rubbing with something... |
| 2 | Middle High German | butze | lump, piece, stump |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | buttaz | cut off; chopped; stumpy; end; piece |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰudʰnós | bottom |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰudʰmḗn | bottom |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰewbʰ- | deep |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰewh₂- | smoke; mist, haze |