palfrey

palfrey · noun¹

1. Proto-Celtic · derived from*uɸoreidos“horse”
2. Gaulish · derived from*werēdos“horse”
3. Latin · derived fromverēdus“post horse”
4. Ancient Greek · derived fromπαρά
5. Late Latin · derived fromparaverēdus“post horse, spare horse”
6. Old French · derived frompalefroi
7. Anglo-Norman · derived frompalefrei“steed”
8. Middle English · inherited frompalfrey
9. English todaypalfrey

From Middle English palfrey, from Anglo-Norman palefrei (“steed”), from Old French palefroi, palefreid, from Late Latin paraverēdus (“post horse, spare horse”), from Ancient Greek παρά (pará) + Latin verēdus (“post horse”), from Gaulish *werēdos (“horse”) (compare Welsh gorwydd (“horse”)), from Proto-Celtic *uɸoreidos (“horse”). Doublet of prad. Compare Dutch paard and German Pferd.

Palfrey · proper noun²

1. Middle English · derived frompalfrey
2. English todayPalfrey

Metonymic occupational surname for a man responsible for the maintenance and provision of saddle-horses, from Middle English palfrey.

Words from the same roots