English
aberdevine
Aberdevine comes from Welsh aderyn ‘singulative of adar (“birds”)’, from Old Welsh atar ‘bird’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *peth₂- ‘to fly’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*peth₂-‘to fly’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*péth₂r̥‘wing’reconstructed
- Proto-Celticc. 1300–800 BCE*ɸatar‘a winged creature, bird’reconstructed
- Old Welshc. 800–1150atar‘bird’
- Welshc. 1500–presentadar‘birds’
- Welsh, derivedc. 1500–presentaderyn‘singulative of adar (“birds”)’
- Englishtodayaberdevine
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*peth₂-‘to fly’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*péth₂r̥‘wing’reconstructed
- Proto-Celticc. 1300–800 BCE*ɸatar‘a winged creature, bird’reconstructed
- Old Welshc. 800–1150atar‘bird’
- Welshc. 1500–presentadar‘birds’
- Welsh, derivedc. 1500–presentaderyn‘singulative of adar (“birds”)’
- Englishtodayaberdevine
The story
Attested since the mid 1700s, of obscure origin.uncertain The source flags this step as uncertain. Richard Coates suggests that it may derive from Welsh aderyn and draenog with substantial phonological modifications. (The alternative form aber-de-vine shows re-interpretation as a French compound with de.)
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *peth₂- ‘to fly’
pass, mile, expansion, repeat, compete, pen, expand, petition, patent, competitor, symptom, perpetual, spawn, impetus, expanse, perpetuate, pennant, perpetuity, petulant, impetuous, patina, patella, pinion, pata, penna, petulance, 82 more
through Proto-Indo-European *péth₂r̥ ‘wing’
Today it means
noun The Eurasian siskin or spruce siskin, Spinus spinus, a small green and yellow finch related to the goldfinch.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *peth₂- / aberdevine