Where does “Szerszeń” come from?
Szerszeń (Polish) comes from Old Polish sirszeń, from Proto-Slavic sьrxy, from Proto-Balto-Slavic *śirˀšṓ, from Proto-Indo-European ḱerh₂s-, from Proto-Indo-European ḱerh₂- — head, top; horn.
Ancestry of “Szerszeń”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old Polish | sirszeń | — |
| 2 | Proto-Slavic | sьrxy | hornet |
| 3 | Proto-Balto-Slavic | *śirˀšṓ | — |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱerh₂s- | head; hornet |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱerh₂- | head, top; horn |