Where does “sjávarspendýr” come from?

sjávarspendýr (Icelandic) comes from Icelandic spendýr, from Icelandic dýr, from Old Norse dýr, from Proto-Norse *ᛞᛖᚢᛉᚨ, from Proto-Germanic deuzą, from Proto-Indo-European dʰewsóm, from Proto-Indo-European dʰéws, from Proto-Indo-European dʰwes- — to breathe; breath; spirit, soul > creature.

sjávarspendýr (Icelandic): marine mammal

Definitions

  1. marine mammal

Ancestry of “sjávarspendýr”, step by step

sjávarspendýr traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Icelandic spendýr

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Icelandicspendýrmammal
2Icelandicdýr"or"; expensive, costly; valuable, precious
3Old Norsedýranimal
4Proto-Norse*ᛞᛖᚢᛉᚨanimal
5Proto-Germanicdeuząanimal, beast
6Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewsómliving thing
7Proto-Indo-Europeandʰéwsbreath
8Proto-Indo-Europeandʰwes-to breathe; breath; spirit, soul > creature

via Icelandic sjór

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Icelandicsjórsea
2Old Norsesærthe sea, ocean; second/third-person singular...
3Old Norsesikoneself
4Proto-GermanicsikAlternative form of *sek
5Proto-Germanicsīkątrickling water; a dribble; a slow brook; a...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanseykʷ-to moisten; to filter
7Proto-Indo-Europeansey-to be wet; dribble; run; to stretch one's arm;...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰwes-Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰéwsEvery word from Proto-Indo-European dʰewsóm