Where does “derf” come from?

derf (Middle English) comes from Old English dearf, from Proto-Germanic derbaz, from Proto-Germanic derbaną, from Proto-Indo-European dʰerHbʰ- — to work, perish, die.

derf (Middle English): bold, daring, strong

Definitions

  1. bold, daring, strong

Ancestry of “derf”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishdearf—
2Proto-Germanicderbazbold, determined, strong
3Proto-Germanicderbanąto work; to perish
4Proto-Indo-EuropeandʰerHbʰ-to work, perish, die

Words derived from “derf”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰerHbʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic derbaną →Every word from Proto-Germanic derbaz →
derf — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer