Where does “sterch” come from?
sterch (Middle English) comes from Middle English stark, from Old English stearc, from Proto-West Germanic stark, from Proto-Germanic starkaz, from Proto-Indo-European (s)terg- — to be stiff; rigid; rigid, stiff.
sterch (Middle English): stiff
Definitions
- stiff
Ancestry of “sterch”, step by step
sterch traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English stark
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | stark | — |
| 2 | Old English | stearc | severe, stern, harsh; stiff, rigid, not bending,... |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | stark | stiff, stark |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | starkaz | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)terg- | to be stiff; rigid; rigid, stiff |
via Middle English sterk
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | sterk | strong; stiff |