Where does “Zitterspinne” come from?

Zitterspinne (German) comes from German zittern, from Middle High German zitern, from Old High German zittarōn, from Proto-Germanic titrōną — to tremble, shake.

Zitterspinne (German): daddy long-legs spider

Definitions

  1. daddy long-legs spider

Ancestry of “Zitterspinne”, step by step

Zitterspinne traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German zittern

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanzitternto shiver, to tremble, to vibrate
2Middle High Germanzitern—
3Old High Germanzittarōnto tremble, shake
4Proto-Germanictitrōnąto tremble, shake

via German spinne

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanspinnefirst-person singular indicative present of...
2Middle High Germanspinne—
3Old High Germanspinna—
Every word from Proto-Germanic titrōną →Every word from Old High German zittarōn →Every word from Middle High German zitern →