Etymograph

English

gersum

Gersum comes from Old Norse gersemi ‘treasure’, from gǫrr ‘ready’, and ultimately from Proto-Germanic *garwaz.

  1. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*garwaz‘ready, prepared’reconstructed
  2. Old Norsec. 800–1350gǫrr‘ready’
  3. Old Norse, derivedc. 800–1350gersemi‘treasure’
  4. Old Englishc. 450–1150gærsum‘a treasure or valuable’
  5. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500gersom‘Riches, treasure, or a gift of such’
  6. Englishearliest quotation 1610gersum

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*garwaz‘ready, prepared’reconstructed
  2. Old Norsec. 800–1350gǫrr‘ready’
  3. Old Norse, derivedc. 800–1350gersemi‘treasure’
  4. Old Englishc. 450–1150gærsum‘a treasure or valuable’
  5. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500gersom‘Riches, treasure, or a gift of such’
  6. Englishearliest quotation 1610gersum

Earliest quotation: 1610, William Camden, Northfolke: “[…]but now it paieth ſeauentie pounds by weight to…”

Linked words

through Proto-Germanic *garwaz ‘ready, prepared’

garb, gar, yar, yarrow, yare, 3 more

Today it means

noun A lump sum paid by individuals who take a lease of landed property in England.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Germanic *garwaz / gersum

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