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

  1. town, city; to bid; offer; to ask; invite

Ancestry of “by”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Danishbytown, city
2Old Norsebǿrfarm; town
3Old Norsebúato reside; to prepare; to dress, decorate
4Proto-Germanicbūanąto dwell, reside
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanbʰuH-to become, grow, appear

Words derived from “by”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰuH- →Every word from Proto-Germanic būaną →Every word from Old Norse búa →