Where does “otter” come from?
otter (Middle English) comes from Middle English oter, from Old English otor, from Proto-Germanic utraz, from Proto-Indo-European udrós, from Proto-Indo-European wed-, from Proto-Indo-European wey- — to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;...
otter (Middle English): Alternative form of oter
Ancestry of “otter”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | oter | An otter; The hide, skin or pelt of an otter |
| 2 | Old English | otor | otter |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | utraz | otter |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | udrós | of water, aquatic |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | wed- | water |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | wey- | to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;... |