köken: From Middle Persian [Book Pahlavi needed] (pdk' /payg/, “foot-soldier, courier”), ultimately from Proto-Iranian *pā́dah (“foot”). Cognate with Sanskrit पदिक (padika, “going on foot, pedestrian”). Compare the Iranian borrowings: Old Armenian պայիկ (payik), Georgian პაიკი (ṗaiḳi), Classical Syriac ܦܱܝܓܳܐ (faygā), Arabic فَيْج (fayj), فَوْج (fawj). Doublet of فوج (fowj).
köken: From Old Swedish härold, from Old French herault (modern French héraut), from Frankish *heriwald, from Proto-Germanic *harjawaldaz (see Harald and Proto-Germanic *Harjawaldaz), a compound consisting of Proto-Indo-European *ker- (“army”) + *h₂welh₁- (“to be strong”).
From Middle Dutch heraut, from Old French heraut, from Frankish *heriwald, from Proto-Germanic *harjawaldaz, a compound consisting of *ker- (“army”) + *h₂welh₁- (“to be strong, to rule”), equivalent to modern Dutch heer (“army”) + weld (“power, authority”). Compare Wouter, which has these elements reversed.