Etymology Explorer › Icelandic

Where does “beltisdýr” come from?

beltisdýr (Icelandic) comes from Icelandic dýr, from Old Norse dýr, from Proto-Norse *ᛞᛖᚢᛉᚨ, from Proto-Germanic deuzą, from Proto-Indo-European dʰewsóm, from Proto-Indo-European dʰéws, from Proto-Indo-European dʰwes- — to breathe; breath; spirit, soul > creature.

beltisdýr (Icelandic): armadillo

Definitions

  1. armadillo

Ancestry of “beltisdýr”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Icelandicdýr"or"; expensive, costly; valuable, precious
2Old Norsedýranimal
3Proto-Norse*ᛞᛖᚢᛉᚨ—
4Proto-Germanicdeuząanimal, beast
5Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewsómliving thing
6Proto-Indo-Europeandʰéwsbreath
7Proto-Indo-Europeandʰwes-to breathe; breath; spirit, soul > creature
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰwes- →