Where does “nordlys” come from?
nordlys (Norwegian Nynorsk) comes from Norwegian Nynorsk lys, from Danish lys, from Old Danish liūs, from Old Norse ljós, from Proto-Germanic leuhsą, from Proto-Indo-European lewk-so-m, from Proto-Indo-European lewḱ-, from Proto-Indo-European lewk- — bright; to shine; to see.
nordlys (Norwegian Nynorsk): the Northern Lights
Definitions
- the Northern Lights
Ancestry of “nordlys”, step by step
nordlys traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Norwegian Nynorsk lys
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norwegian Nynorsk | lys | light; a light; bright |
| 2 | Danish | lys | light; bright; fair, blond |
| 3 | Old Danish | liūs | — |
| 4 | Old Norse | ljós | a burning light; light of the sun |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | leuhsą | light |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | lewk-so-m | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | lewḱ- | lynx |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | lewk- | bright; to shine; to see |