Where does “burden” come from?

burden (Middle English) comes from Old English byrden, from Proto-West Germanic burþini, from Proto-West Germanic burþī, from Proto-Germanic burþį̄, from Proto-Indo-European bʰēr- — shiny, light brown.

burden (Middle English): Alternative form of borden; plural of burde

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of borden; plural of burde

Ancestry of “burden”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishbyrden—
2Proto-West Germanicburþiniburden
3Proto-West Germanicburþīburden
4Proto-Germanicburþį̄burden
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰēr-shiny, light brown

Words derived from “burden”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰēr- →Every word from Proto-Germanic burþį̄ →Every word from Proto-West Germanic burþī →