Etymology Explorer › Middle Dutch

Where does “raven” come from?

raven (Middle Dutch) comes from Old Dutch ravan, from Proto-West Germanic hrabn, from Proto-Germanic hrabnaz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱorh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European ḱer-, from Proto-Indo-European kr̥-, from Proto-Indo-European ker- — army.

Ancestry of “raven”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Dutchravanraven
2Proto-West Germanichrabnraven
3Proto-Germanichrabnazraven
4Proto-Indo-Europeanḱorh₂-—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanḱer-to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,...
6Proto-Indo-Europeankr̥-to turn, to bend
7Proto-Indo-Europeanker-army

Words derived from “raven”

  • waterraaf
  • ravenzwart
  • raaf
  • Raaf
  • rāve
  • raaf
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ker- →