Where does “colthard” come from?

colthard (Middle English) comes from Middle English herde, from Old English hierde, from Proto-West Germanic hirdī, from Proto-Germanic hirdijaz, from Proto-Germanic herdō, from Proto-Indo-European ḱerdʰ- — herd, row; file, row, herd.

Ancestry of “colthard”, step by step

colthard traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Middle English herde

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishherdeherd group of domesticated animals
2Old Englishhierdeherdsman; guardian, keeper, protector
3Proto-West Germanichirdīherdsman, herder
4Proto-Germanichirdijazherder, herdsman
5Proto-Germanicherdōherd
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱerdʰ-herd, row; file, row, herd

via Middle English colt

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishcoltA juvenile equid or camel; a colt; A human child
2Old Englishcoltyoung donkey, young camel
3Proto-GermanickultazA thick, plump mass or object; lump; A bundle; A...
4Proto-Indo-Europeanǵelt-womb
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵel-to swallow; swallow
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱerdʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic herdō →Every word from Proto-Germanic hirdijaz →
colthard — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer