Where does “heks” come from?

heks (Afrikaans) comes from Dutch heks, from Middle High German hecse, from Old High German hagazussa, from Proto-Germanic hagatusjō, from Proto-Germanic hagaz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱak-, from Proto-Indo-European kek- / ḱek- / kekʰ- / ḱekʰ-.

heks (Afrikaans): witch sorceress

Definitions

  1. witch sorceress

Ancestry of “heks”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchhekswitch
2Middle High Germanhecse—
3Old High Germanhagazussawitch
4Proto-Germanichagatusjōwitch
5Proto-Germanichagazabled, capable; suitable, comfortable
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱak-branch, pole; branch, stick; to be able, help
7Proto-Indo-Europeankek- / ḱek- / kekʰ- / ḱekʰ-—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kek- / ḱek- / kekʰ- / ḱekʰ- →