Where does “rückgratlos” come from?
rückgratlos (German) comes from German Rückgrat, from German rück-, from Middle High German rücke, from Old High German rucki, from Proto-West Germanic hrugi, from Proto-Germanic hrugjaz, from Proto-Indo-European (s)krewk-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)ḱer- — dung, manure, filth; manure, dung, filth.
rückgratlos (German): spineless, cowardly
Definitions
- spineless, cowardly
Ancestry of “rückgratlos”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | Rückgrat | backbone, spine |
| 2 | German | rück- | back |
| 3 | Middle High German | rücke | back |
| 4 | Old High German | rucki | back |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | hrugi | back; spine |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | hrugjaz | back; spine; ridge |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)krewk- | to turn, bend |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)ḱer- | dung, manure, filth; manure, dung, filth |