Where does “froskdýr” come from?

froskdýr (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.

froskdýr (Icelandic): amphibian

Definitions

  1. amphibian

Ancestry of “froskdýr”, step by step

froskdýr traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Icelandic dýr

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

via Icelandic froskur

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Icelandicfroskurfrog; type of green firecracker
2Old Norsefroskrfrog
3Proto-Germanicfruskazfrog
4Proto-Indo-Europeanprew-to jump
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰwes-Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰéwsEvery word from Proto-Indo-European dʰewsóm
froskdýr — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer