Where does “east” come from?

east (West Frisian) comes from Old Frisian āst, from Old Norse austr, from Proto-Germanic austrą, from Proto-Germanic austraz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂éwsteros — in the direction of dawn, east.

east (West Frisian): east, eastern, easterly; east; east, eastern...

Definitions

  1. east, eastern, easterly; east; east, eastern...

Ancestry of “east”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frisianāst
2Old Norseaustreast
3Proto-Germanicaustrąeast; east, eastward
4Proto-Germanicaustrazeast, eastern
5Proto-Indo-European*h₂éwsterosin the direction of dawn, east
Every word from Proto-Indo-European *h₂éwsterosEvery word from Proto-Germanic austrazEvery word from Proto-Germanic austrą