Where does “björndjur” come from?

björndjur (Swedish) comes from Swedish djur, from Old Swedish diūr, from Old Norse diūʀ, from Proto-Norse *ᛞᛖᚢᛉᚨ, 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.

björndjur (Swedish): a water bear (member of the animal phylum Tardigrada)

Definitions

  1. a water bear (member of the animal phylum Tardigrada)

Ancestry of “björndjur”, step by step

björndjur traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Swedish djur

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swedishdjuranimal
2Old Swedishdiūranimal
3Old Norsediūʀanimal
4Proto-Norse*ᛞᛖᚢᛉᚨanimal
5Proto-Germanicdeuząanimal, beast
6Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewsómliving thing
7Proto-Indo-Europeandʰéwsbreath
8Proto-Indo-Europeandʰwes-to breathe; breath; spirit, soul > creature

via Swedish Björn

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1SwedishBjörna bear an ursid
2Old Swedishbiørnbear (animal)
3Old NorseBjǫrnbear (animal)
4Proto-Germanicbernuzbear
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰwes- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰéws →Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰewsóm →