Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “waughter” come from?

waughter (Middle English) comes from Middle Low German wachter, from Middle Dutch wachten, from Old Dutch wahton, from Old Dutch wahta, from Proto-West Germanic wahtu, from Proto-Germanic wahtwō, from Proto-Germanic wakaną, from Proto-Indo-European weǵ- — lively, awake; strong.

Ancestry of “waughter”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Low Germanwachtera guard
2Middle Dutchwachtento guard, to be on guard; to guard, to protect;...
3Old Dutchwahton—
4Old Dutchwahtawatch, sentry, guard
5Proto-West Germanicwahtuwatch, vigil
6Proto-Germanicwahtwōwatch, vigil
7Proto-Germanicwakanąto wake, be awake, arise
8Proto-Indo-Europeanweǵ-lively, awake; strong

Words derived from “waughter”

  • wafter
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weǵ- →