Etymology Explorer › Icelandic

Where does “lyf” come from?

lyf (Icelandic) comes from Old Norse lyf, from Proto-Germanic lubją, from Proto-Indo-European lewbʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European lēw- — to sound, resound, sing out; to leave.

lyf (Icelandic): drug, medicine

Definitions

  1. drug, medicine

Ancestry of “lyf”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norselyf—
2Proto-Germaniclubjąwort, herb; poison; love potion
3Proto-Indo-Europeanlewbʰ-to desire, covet, want; to admire, praise; to...
4Proto-Indo-Europeanlēw-to sound, resound, sing out; to leave

Words derived from “lyf”

  • lyfjabúð
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lēw- →