Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Easter egg” come from?

Easter egg (English) comes from English egg, from Middle English eggen, from Old Saxon eggian, from Old Norse eggja, from Old Norse egg, from Proto-Germanic agjō, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eḱ- — sharp.

Easter egg (English): A dyed or decorated egg, traditionally associated...

Definitions

  1. A dyed or decorated egg, traditionally associated...

Ancestry of “Easter egg”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglisheggAn approximately spherical or ellipsoidal body...
2Middle EnglisheggenTo egg on; to encourage or provide motivation; To...
3Old Saxoneggianto harrow
4Old Norseeggjato incite, egg on to do
5Old Norseeggegg; edge
6Proto-Germanicagjōedge, corner
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eḱ-sharp

Words derived from “Easter egg”

  • Easter Egger
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eḱ- →