Etymology Explorer › Icelandic

Where does “hafa vaðið fyrir neðan sig” come from?

hafa vaðið fyrir neðan sig (Icelandic) comes from Icelandic hafa, from Old Norse hafa, from Proto-Germanic habjaną, from Proto-Indo-European kh₂pyé-, from Proto-Indo-European keh₂p- — to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...

hafa vaðið fyrir neðan sig (Icelandic): it's better to have the ford beneath oneself

Definitions

  1. it's better to have the ford beneath oneself

Ancestry of “hafa vaðið fyrir neðan sig”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Icelandichafato have; to hold, to have; to keep
2Old Norsehafato have; to hold, keep, retain; to bring, carry
3Proto-Germanichabjanąto have, to hold; to lift, heave
4Proto-Indo-Europeankh₂pyé-—
5Proto-Indo-Europeankeh₂p-to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...

Words derived from “hafa vaðið fyrir neðan sig”

  • það er betra að hafa vaðið fyrir neðan sig
Every word from Proto-Indo-European keh₂p- →