Where does “ter” come from?
ter (Old High German) comes from Old English teru, from Proto-Germanic terwą, from Pre-Germanic derwom, from English doru, from Ancient Greek δόρυ, from Proto-Hellenic dóru, from Proto-Indo-European dóru, from Proto-Indo-European drew- — hard, firm, strong, solid; hard, fast; tree.
Ancestry of “ter”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old English | teru | tar, resin; earwax |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | terwą | tar |
| 3 | Pre-Germanic | derwom | — |
| 4 | English | doru | Alternative form of dory |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | δόρυ | wood, tree, stem; spear shaft, spear, lance,... |
| 6 | Proto-Hellenic | dóru | tree |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | dóru | tree |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | drew- | hard, firm, strong, solid; hard, fast; tree |