Where does “Wächterlein” come from?

Wächterlein (German) comes from German Wächter, from Middle High German wahter, from Old High German wahtāri, from Proto-Germanic wahtwō, from Proto-Germanic wakaną, from Proto-Indo-European weǵ- — lively, awake; strong.

Ancestry of “Wächterlein”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanWächterguard
2Middle High Germanwahter—
3Old High Germanwahtāriwatchman
4Proto-Germanicwahtwōwatch, vigil
5Proto-Germanicwakanąto wake, be awake, arise
6Proto-Indo-Europeanweǵ-lively, awake; strong
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weǵ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic wakaną →Every word from Proto-Germanic wahtwō →