English
Spear
Spear comes from Proto-Indo-European *sperH- ‘to kick’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*sperH-‘to kick’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*sperureconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CEsame formreconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150spere
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- EnglishtodaySpear
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*sperH-‘to kick’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*sperureconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CEsame formreconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150spere
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- EnglishtodaySpear
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *sperH- ‘to kick’
hemisphere, spur, spoor, 10 more
through Middle English spere
Today it means
name An English surname transferred from the nickname or originating as an occupation.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *sperH- / Spear