Where does “belfray” come from?

belfray (Middle English) comes from Old French berfroi, from German bercfrit, from Middle High German bergen, from Old High German bergan, from Proto-West Germanic bergan, from Proto-Germanic berganą, from Proto-Indo-European bʰerǵʰ- — to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain.

Ancestry of “belfray”, step by step

belfray traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Old French berfroi

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchberfroimovable siege tower
2Germanbercfrit—
3Middle High Germanbergento protect
4Old High Germanberganto shelter
5Proto-West Germanicberganto preserve, to keep; to protect, to shelter
6Proto-Germanicberganąto take care of; to preserve, to keep; to...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰerǵʰ-to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain

via Old French belfroi

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchbelfroi—

via Old French berfrey

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchberfrey—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰerǵʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic berganą →Every word from Proto-West Germanic bergan →
belfray — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer