Where does “threat” come from?

threat (Middle English) comes from Old English þrēat, from Proto-Germanic þrautaz, from Proto-Indo-European trewd- — to push, to thrust.

Ancestry of “threat”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishþrēatcrowd, swarm, troop, army, press; pressure,...
2Proto-Germanicþrautaz—
3Proto-Indo-Europeantrewd-to push, to thrust
Every word from Proto-Indo-European trewd- →Every word from Proto-Germanic þrautaz →Every word from Old English þrēat →
threat — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer