Etymograph

English

warrior

Warrior comes from Middle English werreour ‘a warrior or combatant’, from Medieval Latin werra ‘war’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wers- ‘to mix up, confuse, beat, thresh’.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*wers-‘to mix up, confuse, beat, thresh’reconstructed
  2. Frankishc. 250–700*werʀu‘confusion’reconstructed
  3. Medieval Latinc. 600–1500werra‘war’
  4. Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400werreur
  5. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500werreour‘a warrior or combatant’
  6. Englishearliest quotation 1879warrior

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*wers-‘to mix up, confuse, beat, thresh’reconstructed
  2. Frankishc. 250–700*werʀu‘confusion’reconstructed
  3. Medieval Latinc. 600–1500werra‘war’
  4. Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400werreur
  5. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500werreour‘a warrior or combatant’
  6. Englishearliest quotation 1879warrior

Earliest quotation: 1879, Richard Jefferies, London: Smith: “Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded…”

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *wers- ‘to mix up, confuse, beat, thresh’

horse, varicose, 9 more

through Medieval Latin werra ‘war’

war, 2 more

Today it means

noun A person who is actively engaged in battle, conflict or warfare; a soldier or combatant.

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

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *wers- / warrior

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