Etymology Explorer › Norwegian Nynorsk

Where does “sjøfolk” come from?

sjøfolk (Norwegian Nynorsk) comes from Norwegian Nynorsk sjø, from Old Norse sjór, from Proto-Germanic saiwiz, from Proto-Germanic sīhwaną, from Proto-Indo-European seykʷ-, from Proto-Indo-European sey- — to be wet; dribble; run; to stretch one's arm;...

sjøfolk (Norwegian Nynorsk): seamen

Definitions

  1. seamen

Ancestry of “sjøfolk”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Norwegian Nynorsksjøa sea, ocean; a lake
2Old NorsesjórAlternative form of sær
3Proto-Germanicsaiwizsea, ocean
4Proto-Germanicsīhwanąto filter
5Proto-Indo-Europeanseykʷ-to moisten; to filter
6Proto-Indo-Europeansey-to be wet; dribble; run; to stretch one's arm;...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sey- →