Where does “villdyr” come from?

villdyr (Norwegian Nynorsk) comes from Norwegian Nynorsk dyr, from Old West Norse dýr, from Proto-Germanic deuzą, from Proto-Indo-European dʰewsóm, from Proto-Indo-European dʰéws, from Proto-Indo-European dʰwes- — to breathe; breath; spirit, soul > creature.

villdyr (Norwegian Nynorsk): a wild animal; a brutal and dangerous person

Definitions

  1. a wild animal; a brutal and dangerous person

Ancestry of “villdyr”, step by step

villdyr traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Norwegian Nynorsk dyr

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Norwegian Nynorskdyran animal; expensive; dear
2Old West Norsedýr—
3Proto-Germanicdeuząanimal, beast
4Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewsómliving thing
5Proto-Indo-Europeandʰéwsbreath
6Proto-Indo-Europeandʰwes-to breathe; breath; spirit, soul > creature

via Norwegian Nynorsk vill

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Norwegian Nynorskvillwild
2Old Norsevillrwild
3Proto-Germanicwilþijazwild
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂welh₁-to rule; strong, powerful; hair; wool
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰwes- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰéws →Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰewsóm →
villdyr — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer