English
fiery
Fiery comes from Middle English fyry ‘Burning, glowing’, from fyr ‘fire’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *péh₂wr̥.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*péh₂wr̥‘fire’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*fōr‘fire’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*fuir‘fire’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150fȳr‘fire’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500fyr‘fire’
- Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500fyry‘Burning, glowing’
- Englishearliest quotation 1892fiery
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*péh₂wr̥‘fire’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*fōr‘fire’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*fuir‘fire’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150fȳr‘fire’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500fyr‘fire’
- Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500fyry‘Burning, glowing’
- Englishearliest quotation 1892fiery
Earliest quotation: 1892, James Yoxall: “The desert storm was riding in its strength; the…”
Formed from fire + -y
Proto-Indo-European *péh₂wr̥
…
Proto-Germanic *fuïr
Proto-West Germanic *fuir
Old English fȳr ‘fire’
Middle English fyr
English fire
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *péh₂wr̥ ‘fire’
bureau, poppy, burrito, bertram, pyre, pyro, pyrite, burro, 16 more
through Old English fȳr ‘fire’
through Middle English fyr ‘fire’
Today it means
adj Of or relating to fire.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *péh₂wr̥ / fiery