Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “fother” come from?

fother (Middle English) comes from Old Norse fóðr, from Middle Low German vōder, from Proto-Germanic fōdrą, from Proto-Germanic fōdô, from Proto-Indo-European pat- — to feed; path; to go.

fother (Middle English): Alternative form of fother

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of fother

Ancestry of “fother”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norsefóðrfodder; sheath
2Middle Low Germanvōderlinen, sheath; sheath, linen
3Proto-Germanicfōdrąfodder; sheath
4Proto-Germanicfōdôfood, nourishment
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpat-to feed; path; to go
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pat- →