Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “-borough” come from?

-borough (English) comes from English borough, from Middle English borwe, from Old English burh, from Old English burg, from Proto-Germanic burgz, from Proto-Indo-European bʰr̥ǵʰ-.

-borough (English): Placename suffix, indicated site of a fortified...

Definitions

  1. Placename suffix, indicated site of a fortified...

Ancestry of “-borough”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishboroughA fortified town; A town or city; A town having a...
2Middle Englishborwe—
3Old EnglishburhAlternative form of burg; fortress; hill
4Old Englishburgcity; town; a fortified place: stronghold, fort,...
5Proto-Germanicburgzfortification, stronghold; city
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰr̥ǵʰ-—

Words derived from “-borough”

  • Maryborough
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰr̥ǵʰ- →