Where does “níðingur” come from?

níðingur (Icelandic) comes from Old Norse níðingr, from Old Norse níð, from Proto-Germanic nīþą, from Proto-Indo-European neyH- — to lead.

níðingur (Icelandic): scoundrel, rascal

Definitions

  1. scoundrel, rascal

Ancestry of “níðingur”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norseníðingrhonorless person
2Old Norseníðdefamation; honorless
3Proto-Germanicnīþąhate, envy, malice
4Proto-Indo-EuropeanneyH-to lead
Every word from Proto-Indo-European neyH- →Every word from Proto-Germanic nīþą →Every word from Old Norse níð →