Where does “by” come from?
by (Norwegian Bokmål) comes from Danish by, from Old Norse bǿr, from Old Norse búa, from Proto-Germanic būaną, from Proto-Indo-European bʰuH- — to become, grow, appear.
by (Norwegian Bokmål): town, city; to bid; offer; to ask; invite
Definitions
- town, city; to bid; offer; to ask; invite
Ancestry of “by”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Danish | by | town, city |
| 2 | Old Norse | bǿr | farm; town |
| 3 | Old Norse | búa | to reside; to prepare; to dress, decorate |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | būaną | to dwell, reside |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰuH- | to become, grow, appear |