Where does “straffen” come from?
straffen (Middle Dutch) comes from Middle High German strāfen, from Proto-Germanic strēpōną, from Proto-Indo-European (s)ter(h₁)- — to be stiff; be rigid; exert.
straffen (Middle Dutch): to scold, to reprimand; to refute; to punish
Definitions
- to scold, to reprimand; to refute; to punish
Ancestry of “straffen”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle High German | strāfen | — |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | strēpōną | — |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)ter(h₁)- | to be stiff; be rigid; exert |