Where does “rufian” come from?

rufian (Middle French) comes from Italian ruffiano, from Italian roffia, from Old High German hrŭf, from Proto-Germanic hreubaz, from Proto-Indo-European kreup- — scab, crust.

Ancestry of “rufian”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Italianruffianopander, procurer, pimp; bootlicker; sycophant
2Italianroffiascraps of tanned leather
3Old High Germanhrŭfeschar, crust
4Proto-Germanichreubazrough, crusty, scabby
5Proto-Indo-Europeankreup-scab, crust

Words derived from “rufian”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European kreup- →Every word from Proto-Germanic hreubaz →Every word from Old High German hrŭf →