Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Ming” come from?

Ming derives from Mandarin 明, a Chinese character whose earliest attested meaning remains uncertain.

Ming (English): A member of the Ming dynasty

Definitions

  1. A member of the Ming dynasty

Ancestry of “Ming”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmingingUnattractive or repulsive; Unclean or dirty
2Scotsmingindisgusting, repulsive, stinking; ugly or...
3Scots-in—
4Middle English-ingForms gerunds from verbs, typically referring to...
5Old English-ingForming nouns from verbs, indicating action,...
6Old English-tūn—
7Old Englishtūnenclosure, yard; place; dwelling
8Proto-West Germanictūnfence
9Proto-Germanictūnąfence; enclosure
10Gaulishdunumfort; hill, hillfort
11Proto-Celticdūnomstronghold, rampart
12Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewh₂-smoke; mist, haze
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂- →