star

Where does the word "star" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic sternǭ, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).

Star’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: sternǭ meant “star.” Cognate with Latin 'stella' and Greek 'astēr', as in 'astronomy'. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as steorra. Also used for planets and comets; a comet was a 'feaxede steorra', long-haired star. It reached English by 1500s as star. The theatre sense of a leading performer dates from the 1820s. Today, star means a luminous point in the night sky; a famous performer.

1. Stage 1 · Proto-Germanic · ancient sternǭ "star", cognate with Latin 'stella' and Greek 'astēr', as in 'astronomy'.
2. Stage 2 · Old English · 700s-1000s steorra "star", also used for planets and comets; a comet was a 'feaxede steorra', long-haired star.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s star "star", the theatre sense of a leading performer dates from the 1820s.