Etymology Explorer › Russian

Where does “смерд” come from?

смерд (Russian) comes from Old Church Slavonic смръдъ, from Proto-Slavic smьrdě̀ti, from Proto-Balto-Slavic smirˀdḗˀtei, from Proto-Indo-European (s)merd- — to bite, to sting.

смерд (Russian): a low-class peasant, smerd; peasant; serf; slave

Definitions

  1. a low-class peasant, smerd; peasant; serf; slave

Ancestry of “смерд”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Church Slavonicсмръдъsomeone who stinks
2Proto-Slavicsmьrdě̀ti—
3Proto-Balto-Slavicsmirˀdḗˀteito stink
4Proto-Indo-European(s)merd-to bite, to sting

Words derived from “смерд”

  • smerd
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)merd- →