Where does “kjerring” come from?

kjerring (Norwegian Nynorsk) comes from Old Norse kerling, from Old Norse Karl, from Proto-Norse ᚲᚨᚱᛁᛚᚨᛉ, from Proto-Germanic karilaz, from Proto-Germanic karaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵerh₂- — to grow old, to mature.

kjerring (Norwegian Nynorsk): old woman; wife; girl, lady

Definitions

  1. old woman; wife; girl, lady

Ancestry of “kjerring”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norsekerlingwoman, wife; old woman
2Old NorseKarlman
3Proto-Norseᚲᚨᚱᛁᛚᚨᛉ—
4Proto-Germanickarilazfree man, franklin; little man, young man
5Proto-Germanickaraz—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵerh₂-to grow old, to mature

Words derived from “kjerring”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵerh₂- →Every word from Proto-Germanic karaz →Every word from Proto-Germanic karilaz →
kjerring — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer