Where does “helherre” come from?

helherre (Norwegian Nynorsk) comes from Norwegian Nynorsk herre, from Old Norse herra, from Old Saxon hērro, from Old High German hērro, from Proto-Germanic hairaz, from Proto-Indo-European (s)ḱeh₃- — darkness, shadow.

helherre (Norwegian Nynorsk): devil

Definitions

  1. devil

Ancestry of “helherre”, step by step

helherre traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Norwegian Nynorsk herre

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Norwegian Nynorskherregentleman, man; master, lord, ruler
2Old Norseherramister, gentleman; sir; to confer with the title...
3Old Saxonhērro
4Old High Germanhērromaster; grey, grey-haired
5Proto-Germanichairazgrey; aged; old; lofty; distinguished
6Proto-Indo-European(s)ḱeh₃-darkness, shadow

via Norwegian Nynorsk hel

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Norwegian Nynorskhelonly used in with preposition i, "in, to": i hel,...
2Old NorseHeldeath
3Proto-Germanichaljōthe netherworld, the underworld, hell
4Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)ḱeh₃-Every word from Proto-Germanic hairazEvery word from Old High German hērro