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I'm wondering about the origin of the Swedish word ohyra (vermin). Someone humorously suggested that this would be because vermin are unwanted guests not paying rent (hyra), though they had no sour...
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2022-01-05T04:20:50Z (over 2 years ago)
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2020-12-16T14:18:23Z (over 3 years ago)
Etymology of "ohyra"?
I'm wondering about the origin of the Swedish word _ohyra_ (vermin). Someone humorously suggested that this would be because vermin are unwanted guests not paying rent (_hyra_), though they had no source for that. I did a little bit of research and Google dropped me in [_Svensk Etymologisk ordbok_](http://runeberg.org/svetym/0632.html) (The Swedish Etymology Dictionary), first edition from the year 1922. It suggests that the word originates from German _ungehûren_/_ungeheuer_, which supposedly (I don't speak German) means demons, beasts, behemoths etc. I find that strange, since vermin are typically small: lice, rats and so on. And it's quite far from _ungeziefer_. The source also claims that the origin of the word is that using the words lice, rats etc directly would have been a taboo. Is this source correct/trustworthy? Does the word originate from German? Any idea how old the word could be?