Etymology Explorer › Old English

Where does “rift” come from?

rift (Old English) comes from Proto-Germanic riftą, from Proto-Indo-European h₁rebʰ- — to cover, to roof; rib.

rift (Old English): a veil; curtain; cloak

Definitions

  1. a veil; curtain; cloak

Ancestry of “rift”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Germanicriftą—
2Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁rebʰ-to cover, to roof; rib
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁rebʰ- →