Where does “fylgifiskur” come from?

fylgifiskur (Icelandic) comes from Icelandic fiskur, from Old Norse fiskr, from Proto-Germanic fiskaz, from Indo-European *peysk-.

fylgifiskur (Icelandic): a result; follower, adherent

Definitions

  1. a result; follower, adherent

Ancestry of “fylgifiskur”, step by step

fylgifiskur traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Icelandic fiskur

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Icelandicfiskurfish; Pisces
2Old Norsefiskra fish
3Proto-Germanicfiskazfish
4Indo-European*peysk-—

via Icelandic fylgja

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Icelandicfylgjato accompany, follow; to legally belong with; to...
2Old Norsefylgjacompanionship; kind of guardian angel, guardian...
3Proto-Germanicfulgijanąto follow
Every word from Indo-European *peysk- →Every word from Proto-Germanic fiskaz →Every word from Old Norse fiskr →