Where does “niederösterreichisch” come from?
niederösterreichisch (German) comes from German österreichisch, from German Österreich, from Middle High German Osteriche, from Old High German Ostarrîchi, from Old High German rīhhi, from Proto-West Germanic rīkī, from Proto-Germanic rīkijaz, from Proto-Germanic rīks — to straighten, to right oneself; right; just.
niederösterreichisch (German): Lower Austrian
Ancestry of “niederösterreichisch”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | German | österreichisch | Austrian |
| 2 | German | Österreich | Austria; eastern empire |
| 3 | Middle High German | Osteriche | — |
| 4 | Old High German | Ostarrîchi | — |
| 5 | Old High German | rīhhi | rich, mighty; power, might, empire; realm |
| 6 | Proto-West Germanic | rīkī | mighty, powerful; rich; kingdom, realm |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | rīkijaz | kingly, royal, noble; mighty, powerful; rich |
| 8 | Proto-Germanic | rīks | king, ruler |
| 9 | Proto-Celtic | rīxs | king |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃rḗǵs | king, ruler |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃reǵ- | to straighten, to right oneself; right; just |