Where does “zebra” come from?
zebra (Portuguese) comes from Old Portuguese enzebro, from Old Portuguese cebrario, from Vulgar Latin eciferus, from Latin equiferus, from Latin equus, from Proto-Italic ekwos, from Proto-Indo-European h₁éḱwos, from Proto-Indo-European h₁oh₁ḱu- — swift.
zebra (Portuguese): zebra
Definitions
- zebra
Ancestry of “zebra”, step by step
zebra traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Old Portuguese enzebro
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old Portuguese | enzebro | — |
| 2 | Old Portuguese | cebrario | — |
| 3 | Vulgar Latin | eciferus | fool, wild ass, donkey; wild horse |
| 4 | Latin | equiferus | wild horse |
| 5 | Latin | equus | a horse; a steed, charger |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | ekwos | horse |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁éḱwos | stallion, horse |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁oh₁ḱu- | swift |