Where does “Matterhorn” come from?

Matterhorn derives from German Horn, from Middle High German mate and Old High German horn, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱerh₂- meaning "head" or "horn."

Matterhorn (English): An iconic pyramidal mountain on the border of Switzerland and Italy

Definitions

  1. An iconic pyramidal mountain on the border of Switzerland and Italy

Ancestry of “Matterhorn”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanMatterhornMatterhorn (a mountain on the border of Switzerland and Italy)
2GermanMattemat; meadow
3Middle High Germanmatte
4Old High Germanmatta
5Latinmattanominative feminine singular of mattus;...
6Latinmattusdrunk, intoxicated
7Latinmaditus
8Latinmaderepresent active infinitive of madeō; to be wet; be...
9Latinmadeōto be wet or moist
10Proto-Indo-Europeanmeh₂d-to be wet, to become wet; to meet, approach,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European meh₂d-Every word from Latin madeōEvery word from Latin madere