Where does “ratowniczka” come from?
ratowniczka (Polish) comes from Polish ratownik, from Polish ratować, from Old Polish retować, from Middle High German retten, from Old High German retten, from Proto-West Germanic hraddjan, from Proto-Germanic hradjaną, from Proto-Indo-European ḱret- — to be strong.
Ancestry of “ratowniczka”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Polish | ratownik | lifeguard; rescuer, life saver; paramedic |
| 2 | Polish | ratować | to rescue, to save |
| 3 | Old Polish | retować | to rescue, to save |
| 4 | Middle High German | retten | — |
| 5 | Old High German | retten | — |
| 6 | Proto-West Germanic | hraddjan | to save, to rescue |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | hradjaną | to loosen; set free; deliver; rescue; save |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱret- | to be strong |