Old English þrote (implied in þrotbolla "the Adam's apple, larynx," literally "throat boll"), related to þrutian "to swell," from Proto-Germanic *thrut- (cf. Old High German drozza, German Drossel, Old Saxon strota, Middle Dutch strote, Dutch strot "throat"), perhaps from PIE *trud- (cf. Old English þrutian "to swell," Old Norse þrutna "to swell").
The notion is of "the swollen part" of the neck. Italian strozza "throat," strozzare "to strangle" are Germanic loan-words. College slang for "competitive student" is 1970s, from cutthroat.
throat (thrōt)
n.
The portion of the digestive tract that lies between the rear of the mouth and the esophagus and includes the fauces and the pharynx.
The anterior portion of the neck.
To ruin oneself; to cause harm to oneself; SHOOT oneself IN THE FOOT: If you try to get him that way you'll cut your own throat (1583+)
A very intense and competitive student, esp a premedical student: throat, a person who is over-competitive about grades
Related Termscut one's own throat, jump down someone's throat
[1970s+ College students; fr cutthroat]