Where does “ref” come from?

ref (Middle English) comes from Old English rēaf, from Proto-West Germanic raub, from Proto-Germanic raubō, from Proto-Indo-European reup- — to break; to tear, peel.

ref (Middle English): Alternative form of reif

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of reif

Ancestry of “ref”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishrēafspoils, booty; spoils, booty, dress, armour,...
2Proto-West Germanicraubrape, pillage, robbery; that which is stolen,...
3Proto-Germanicraubōrift
4Proto-Indo-Europeanreup-to break; to tear, peel

Words derived from “ref”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European reup- →Every word from Proto-Germanic raubō →Every word from Proto-West Germanic raub →