Etymology Explorer › German

Where does “wirr” come from?

wirr (German) comes from German Wirren, from Middle High German werren, from Old High German werran, from Proto-Germanic werraną, from Proto-Germanic werzaną, from Proto-Indo-European wers-, from Proto-Indo-European wer- — to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel.

wirr (German): confused

Definitions

  1. confused

Ancestry of “wirr”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanWirrengerund of wirren; plural of Wirre: disturbances,...
2Middle High Germanwerren—
3Old High Germanwerranto entangle, confuse
4Proto-Germanicwerranąto cause confusion or disarray
5Proto-GermanicwerzanąAlternative form of *werraną; to twist, mix up,...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwers-to wipe; peak, height
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel

Words derived from “wirr”

  • wirsch
  • wirrisch
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wer- →