Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Brook” come from?

Brook (English) comes from Dutch broek, from Middle Dutch broec, from Old Dutch bruoc, from Proto-Germanic brōks, from Proto-Germanic brāks, from Proto-Indo-European bʰrāg-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰrēǵ- — to shine, shimmer.

Ancestry of “Brook”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchbroekpair of trousers, pair of pants; pair of...
2Middle Dutchbroectrousers, pants, breeches; low land, wetland,...
3Old Dutchbruoctrousers, pants, breeches; wetland, marsh
4Proto-Germanicbrōksrear end, rump, hindquarters; leggings, pants,...
5Proto-Germanicbrāks—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰrāg-rump, hock, hindquarters
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰrēǵ-to shine, shimmer
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰrēǵ- →