Where does “pipdream” come from?
pipdream (Old English) comes from Old English drēam, from Proto-West Germanic draum, from Proto-Germanic draumaz, from Proto-Germanic draugmaz, from Proto-Indo-European dʰrowgʰ-mos, from Proto-Indo-European dʰrewgʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European dʰer- — to support; to hold.
pipdream (Old English): the sound of a pipe
Ancestry of “pipdream”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old English | drēam | joy, pleasure, gladness, delight, mirth,... |
| 2 | Proto-West Germanic | draum | dream |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | draumaz | dream |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | draugmaz | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰrowgʰ-mos | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰrewgʰ- | to deceive, to mislead; to serve one's tribe;... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰer- | to support; to hold |