Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Easter Island” come from?

Easter Island (English) comes from Dutch Paaseiland, from Dutch Pasen, from English pass, from English passé, from French passé, from French passer, from Middle French passer, from Old French passer — to hate, hurt.

Ancestry of “Easter Island”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1DutchPaaseiland—
2DutchPasenEaster
3Englishpass"To change place."; "To change in state or...
4EnglishpasséDated; out of style; old-fashioned; Past one's...
5Frenchpassépast tense; past; last
6Frenchpasserto go past; to cross; to pass
7Middle Frenchpasserto pass; to go by
8Old Frenchpasserto pass; to pass by
9Vulgar Latinpassareto walk, pass; step, walk, pass; present active...
10Latinpassusspread out; dried; step
11LatinpatiorI suffer, endure; I allow, acquiesce, permit,...
12Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₁-to hate, hurt

Words derived from “Easter Island”

  • Easter Islander
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₁- →