Old Norse:
* The word "reindeer" ultimately comes from the Old Norse word "hreinn." This word is thought to have been derived from an even older Proto-Germanic word, but the exact origin is uncertain.
* "Hreinn" had a broader meaning than just the reindeer. It referred to any kind of wild animal and, more specifically, to deer in general.
English:
* The word "reindeer" entered the English language through the Old Norse word "hreinn" by way of Middle English.
* The word "reindeer" itself is relatively recent, appearing in English around the 16th century. Before that, the animal was simply referred to as a "deer."
Other Languages:
* In many languages, the word for reindeer is directly related to the Old Norse "hreinn".
* For example, in Swedish it is "ren" and in Norwegian it is "rein".
* In Finnish, the word is "poro", which is believed to have been borrowed from a Sami language.
The "re" Prefix:
* It's interesting to note that the "re" prefix in "reindeer" wasn't originally part of the word. This prefix was added later, likely due to a misunderstanding of the word's meaning and its connection to other words like "rein" (meaning "pure" or "clean").
In Summary:
The word "reindeer" is a fascinating example of how language evolves through contact and change. It originated in Old Norse as "hreinn," meaning "wild animal" or "deer," and later evolved into the modern English word "reindeer" with the addition of the "re" prefix.