Where does “Schrankenwärter” come from?

Schrankenwärter (German) comes from German schranke, from Middle High German schranke, from Proto-Germanic skrankaz, from Proto-Indo-European (s)ḱer- — dung, manure, filth; manure, dung, filth.

Schrankenwärter (German): crossing keeper, grade crossing attendant, level crossing attendant, flagman

Definitions

  1. crossing keeper, grade crossing attendant, level crossing attendant, flagman

Ancestry of “Schrankenwärter”, step by step

Schrankenwärter traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German schranke

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanschrankegate barrier that can be pulled or moved up to allow passage
2Middle High Germanschranke—
3Proto-Germanicskrankazbarrier; grid, barrier
4Proto-Indo-European(s)ḱer-dung, manure, filth; manure, dung, filth

via German Wärter

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanWärterattendant; maintainer
2Middle High Germanwerter—
3Old High Germanwartari—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)ḱer- →Every word from Proto-Germanic skrankaz →Every word from Middle High German schranke →