Where does “deer” come from?
deer (Saterland Frisian) comes from Old Frisian dēr, from Old Saxon dior, from Proto-West Germanic deuʀ, from Proto-Germanic deuzą, from Proto-Indo-European dʰewsóm, from Proto-Indo-European dʰéws, from Proto-Indo-European dʰwes- — to breathe; breath; spirit, soul > creature.
deer (Saterland Frisian): there
Ancestry of “deer”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old Frisian | dēr | — |
| 2 | Old Saxon | dior | animal |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | deuʀ | animal, beast |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | deuzą | animal, beast |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰewsóm | living thing |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰéws | breath |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰwes- | to breathe; breath; spirit, soul > creature |