Where does “foster” come from?
foster (Norwegian Nynorsk) comes from Old Norse fóstr, from Proto-Germanic fōstrą, from Proto-Indo-European peh₂- — to protect; to shepherd.
foster (Norwegian Nynorsk): a fetus or foetus
Ancestry of “foster”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old Norse | fóstr | rear, raise; nurturing, education, alimony, child... |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | fōstrą | fostering |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | peh₂- | to protect; to shepherd |