Where does “schiefergrau” come from?

schiefergrau (German) comes from German Grau, from Middle High German grā, from Old High German grāo, from Proto-Germanic grēwaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰreh₁- — to become green, grow; to grow; to green, to grow.

schiefergrau (German): slate-gray

Definitions

  1. slate-gray

Ancestry of “schiefergrau”, step by step

schiefergrau traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German Grau

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanGraugrey
2Middle High Germangrā—
3Old High Germangrāogrey
4Proto-Germanicgrēwazgrey
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰreh₁-to become green, grow; to grow; to green, to grow

via German Schiefer

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanSchiefershale, slate; small splinter
2Middle High Germanschiver—
3Old High Germanskivaro—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰreh₁- →Every word from Proto-Germanic grēwaz →Every word from Old High German grāo →