Where does “echt” come from?
echt (Middle High German) comes from Middle Low German echt, from Old Dutch ēhaft, from Proto-West Germanic aiwahaft, from Proto-West Germanic haft, from Proto-Germanic haftaz, from Proto-Indo-European kh₂ptós, from Proto-Indo-European keh₂p- — to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...
Ancestry of “echt”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle Low German | echt | lawful, genuine |
| 2 | Old Dutch | ēhaft | — |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | aiwahaft | lawful; true, genuine, real; honourable |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | haft | captive |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | haftaz | captive, bound |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | kh₂ptós | grabbed |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | keh₂p- | to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,... |