Where does “першокурсник” come from?

першокурсник (Ukrainian) comes from Ukrainian пе́рший, from Polish pierwszy, from Old Polish pierwy, from Proto-Slavic pьrvъ, from Proto-Balto-Slavic pírˀwas, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥h₂wós, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.

першокурсник (Ukrainian): freshman, first-year student in a university or college

Definitions

  1. freshman, first-year student in a university or college

Ancestry of “першокурсник”, step by step

першокурсник traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Ukrainian пе́рший

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ukrainianпе́ршийfirst
2Polishpierwszyfirst
3Old Polishpierwyfirst
4Proto-Slavicpьrvъfirst
5Proto-Balto-Slavicpírˀwas—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥h₂wósfirst
7Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

via Ukrainian курс

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ukrainianкурсcourse, policy, line, route; rate; course, year
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →Every word from Proto-Indo-European per- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥h₂wós →