Where does “Hollye” come from?
Hollye (English) comes from English Holly, from Middle English holly, from Old English holeġn, from Proto-West Germanic hulis, from Proto-Indo-European kel- — to hit; beat; to pierce, to stab; goblet.
Ancestry of “Hollye”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Holly | Any of various shrubs or (mostly) small trees, of the genus Ilex, either evergreen or deciduous, used as decoration especially at Christmas |
| 2 | Middle English | holly | Alternative form of holy |
| 3 | Old English | holeġn | — |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | hulis | holly |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | kel- | to hit; beat; to pierce, to stab; goblet |