Where does “first” come from?

first (Scots) comes from Middle English first, from Old English fyrst, from Proto-Germanic frestaz, from Proto-Indo-European pres-, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.

first (Scots): first

Definitions

  1. first

Ancestry of “first”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishfirstfirst
2Old EnglishfyrstAlternative form of fierst; Alternative form of...
3Proto-Germanicfrestaz—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanpres-to press
5Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →