English
rider
Rider comes from Middle English ryder ‘a rider or equestrian’, from Old English rīdan ‘to ride’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *Hreydʰ-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*Hreydʰ-‘to set in motion, ride’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*rīdaną‘to ride’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*rīdan‘to ride’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150rīdan‘to ride’
- Old English, derivedc. 450–1150rīdere‘rider, knight’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500ryder‘a rider or equestrian’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1598–1600rider
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*Hreydʰ-‘to set in motion, ride’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*rīdaną‘to ride’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*rīdan‘to ride’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150rīdan‘to ride’
- Old English, derivedc. 450–1150rīdere‘rider, knight’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500ryder‘a rider or equestrian’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1598–1600rider
Earliest quotation: c. 1598–1600, William Shakespeare, As You Like It: “They are taught their mannage, and to that end…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₃reyH- ‘to move, churn’
rival, derivative, irritable, irritate, rin, ria, derivation, ern, 11 more
through Proto-Germanic *rīdaną ‘to ride’
through Proto-West Germanic *rīdan ‘to ride’
through Old English rīdan ‘to ride’
Today it means
noun A knight, or other mounted warrior.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *Hreydʰ- / rider