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
Ancestry of “níðingur”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old Norse | níðingr | honorless person |
| 2 | Old Norse | níð | defamation; honorless |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | nīþą | hate, envy, malice |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | neyH- | to lead |