Where does “varpasveifgras” come from?
varpasveifgras (Icelandic) comes from Icelandic sveifgras, from Icelandic svífa, from Old Norse svífa, from Proto-Germanic swībaną, from Proto-Indo-European swey-, from Proto-Indo-European sew- — to press out, extract; juice; liquid, rain; to...
varpasveifgras (Icelandic): annual meadow grass (Poa annua)
Definitions
- annual meadow grass (Poa annua)
Ancestry of “varpasveifgras”, step by step
varpasveifgras traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Icelandic sveifgras
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Icelandic | sveifgras | poa grass of the genus |
| 2 | Icelandic | svífa | to hover, glide, soar |
| 3 | Old Norse | svífa | to rove, ramble; to swerve, drift |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | swībaną | to revolve; move around; sway; stray; to sweep;... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | swey- | to twist, swing; to hiss; whistle; to swing,... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | sew- | to press out, extract; juice; liquid, rain; to... |
via Icelandic varpi
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Icelandic | varpi | slope between the farmyard and the hayfield |