English
Letcher
Letcher comes from Middle English leche ‘physician’, and goes back to Proto-Germanic *lēkijaz.
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*lēkijaz‘doctor, physician’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*lākī‘doctor, physician’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150lēce
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500leche‘physician’
- EnglishtodayLetcher
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*lēkijaz‘doctor, physician’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*lākī‘doctor, physician’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150lēce
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500leche‘physician’
- EnglishtodayLetcher
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂leg- ‘to care for’
intelligence, intelligent, intellectual, analgesic, analgesia, 10 more
through Middle English leche ‘physician’
Today it means
name A surname originating as an occupation.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Germanic *lēkijaz / Letcher