Where does “rechthoek” come from?

rechthoek (Dutch) comes from Dutch recht, from Middle Dutch recht, from Old Dutch reht, from Proto-West Germanic reht, from Proto-Germanic rehtaz, from Proto-Indo-European h₃reǵtós, from Proto-Indo-European h₃reǵ- — to straighten, to right oneself; right; just.

rechthoek (Dutch): rectangle; right angle

Definitions

  1. rectangle; right angle

Ancestry of “rechthoek”, step by step

rechthoek traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Dutch recht

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchrechtright; straight; a right, privilege
2Middle Dutchrechtstraight, not bent; upright; right, exact
3Old Dutchrehtright
4Proto-West Germanicrehtstraight; right, correct; morally upright, just
5Proto-Germanicrehtazright, straight; morally upright, just
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃reǵtósstraightened, right, upright
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃reǵ-to straighten, to right oneself; right; just

via Dutch hoek

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchhoekcorner; angle
2Middle Dutchhoec
3Middle Dutchhuoc
4Proto-West Germanichōk
5Proto-Germanichōkazhook
6Proto-Indo-Europeankog-

via Latin rectangulum

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinrectangulumnominative neuter singular of rēctangulus;...
2Latinrēctusled straight along, drawn in a straight line, straight, upright
3Latinregōto rule, govern, direct
4Proto-Italicregō
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃réǵetito be straightening, to be setting upright
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃reǵ-Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃reǵtósEvery word from Proto-Germanic rehtaz
rechthoek — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer