Middle English word rither comes from Proto-Indo-European *kor-, Proto-Indo-European *ḱerh₂-, and later Proto-Germanic *hrīþō (A seizure; fit. A storm. A sudden onset; attack.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *kor- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *ḱerh₂- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *hrīþō | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | A seizure; fit. A storm. A sudden onset; attack. |
| *hrinþaz | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | A horned beast, as in a neat or ox. |
| hriþer | Old English (ang) | Cattle. |
| hrūþ | Old English (ang) | |
| hrīþer | Old English (ang) | |
| rither | Middle English (enm) |