Where does “Rheingau” come from?

Rheingau (German) comes from German gau, from Middle High German göu, from Old High German gawi, from Proto-Germanic *gawi, from Proto-Germanic gawją, from Proto-Germanic gaawja, from Proto-Germanic ga-, from Proto-Indo-European ḱóm — resin, gum; to say, speak.

Rheingau (German): famous for its wine

Definitions

  1. famous for its wine

Ancestry of “Rheingau”, step by step

Rheingau traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German gau

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germangau—
2Middle High Germangöushire, district
3Old High Germangawi—
4Proto-Germanic*gawi—
5Proto-Germanicgawjądistrict, shire, region, area
6Proto-Germanicgaawjariverlands, lakeside land
7Proto-Germanicga-Indicates association or togetherness; co-;...
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
9Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
10Middle Englishkyt—
11Germankittputty certain kinds of cement used for fixing e.g. window panes
12Old High Germankuti—
13Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
14Proto-Germanickweduzresin
15Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak

via German Rhein

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanRheinRhine; the river Rhine
2Middle High GermanRīn—
3Old High GermanRīn—
4Proto-West Germanic*Rīnthe river Rhine
5Proto-GermanicRīnazthe river Rhine
6GaulishRēnosthat which flows
7Proto-CelticReinosriver, waterway
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃reyH-to move, set in motion
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃er-to move, to stir; to rise, to spring; to quarrel,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷet- →Every word from Proto-Germanic kweduz →Every word from Proto-West Germanic kwidu →