Where does “rudder” come from?

rudder (Middle English) comes from Middle English rother, from Old English rōþor, from Proto-Germanic rōþrą, from Proto-Indo-European h₁reh₁- — to row; to separate; loose, sparse, rare.

rudder (Middle English): Alternative form of rother

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of rother

Ancestry of “rudder”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishrotherA rudder or till; a steering implement for a...
2Old Englishrōþoroar, rudder
3Proto-Germanicrōþrąoar; rudder
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁reh₁-to row; to separate; loose, sparse, rare
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁reh₁- →Every word from Proto-Germanic rōþrą →Every word from Old English rōþor →