Where does “Selfoss” come from?

Selfoss (Icelandic) comes from Icelandic foss, from Old Norse fors, from Proto-Germanic fursaz, from Pre-Germanic pŕ̥sos, from Proto-Indo-European pers- — to sprinkle, to spatter.

Ancestry of “Selfoss”, step by step

Selfoss traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Icelandic foss

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Icelandicfossa waterfall
2Old Norseforsa waterfall
3Proto-Germanicfursazwaterfall, torrent
4Pre-Germanicpŕ̥sos—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpers-to sprinkle, to spatter

via Icelandic selur

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Icelandicselura seal
2Old Norseselrseal; second-person singular present indicative...
3Proto-Germanicselhazseal
4Proto-Indo-Europeanselk-to pull, drag; to drag, to furrow; to pull, draw
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pers- →