Etymograph

English

raid

Raid comes from Old English rād ‘a riding, an expedition on horseback, road’, from Proto-Germanic *raidō ‘ride, journey’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *Hreydʰ-.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*Hreydʰ-‘to set in motion, ride’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*rīdaną‘to ride’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*raidō‘ride, journey’reconstructed
  4. Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*raidu‘riding, ride’reconstructed
  5. Old Englishc. 450–1150rād‘a riding, an expedition on horseback, road’
  6. Northern Middle Englishmodernrade
  7. Scotsc. 1450–presentraid
  8. Englishearliest quotation 1805same form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Earlier history uncertain.

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*Hreydʰ-‘to set in motion, ride’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*rīdaną‘to ride’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*raidō‘ride, journey’reconstructed
  4. Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*raidu‘riding, ride’reconstructed
  5. Old Englishc. 450–1150rād‘a riding, an expedition on horseback, road’
  6. Northern Middle Englishmodernrade
  7. Scotsc. 1450–presentraid
  8. Englishearliest quotation 1805same form

Earliest quotation: 1805, Walter Scott, Canto Fourth: “Marauding chief! his sole delight / The moonlight raid,…”

The story

The earlier senses of “a riding, expedition, raid” fell into disuse in Early Modern English, but were revived in the northern form raid by Walter Scott in the early 19th century. The use for a swift police operation appears in the later 19th century and may perhaps have been influenced by French razzia (similar in both original meaning and sound).

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *h₃reyH- ‘to move, churn’

rival, derivative, rin, irritable, irritate, derivation, ria, ern, 10 more

through Proto-Indo-European *Hreydʰ- ‘to set in motion, ride’

rider, override, 1 more

through Proto-Germanic *rīdaną ‘to ride’

ride, riding, ritter, overridden, 3 more

through Old English rād ‘a riding, an expedition on horseback, road’

road

Today it means

noun A quick hostile or predatory incursion or invasion in a battle.

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

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *Hreydʰ- / raid

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