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

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	Old English	þrēat	crowd, swarm, troop, army, press; pressure,...
2	Proto-Germanic	þrautaz	—
3	Proto-Indo-European	trewd-	to push, to thrust

threat — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer