English

oxherd

Oxherd comes from Middle English oxeherde, and goes back to Old English oxanhierde.

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

A compound of ox + herd

Proto-Indo-European *uksḗn ‘bull’

Proto-Germanic *uhsô

Proto-West Germanic *ohsō

Old English oxa

Middle English oxe

English ox

Proto-Indo-European *(s)kerdʰ- ‘file, row, herd’

Proto-Germanic *herdō

Proto-West Germanic *herdu

Old English hierd ‘herd, flock’

Middle English herde

English herd

Every English word from Old English oxanhierde

noun One who herds oxen.

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