Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “asshole” come from?

Asshole comes from Middle English arshole, a compound of ars (buttocks) and hole, ultimately referring to the opening of the rectum.

asshole (English): The anus; A jerk; an inappropriately or...

Definitions

  1. The anus; A jerk; an inappropriately or...

Ancestry of “asshole”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishAsh—
2Middle Englishassheashes; The remnants of a lifeform; The matter...
3Old Englishæscash tree; spear; ship
4Old Englishæsċash tree; ash, spear, lance, ship
5Old Englishtrēo—
6Proto-West Germanictreutree; wood
7Proto-Germanictrewątree
8EnglishdoruAlternative form of dory
9Ancient Greekδόρυwood, tree, stem; spear shaft, spear, lance,...
10Proto-Hellenicdórutree
11Proto-Indo-Europeandórutree
12Proto-Indo-Europeandrew-hard, firm, strong, solid; hard, fast; tree

Words derived from “asshole”

  • assholeness
  • assholery
  • assholish
  • assholic
  • assholey
  • assholehood
  • assholedom
  • assholishly
  • asstard
  • assholio
Every word from Proto-Indo-European drew- →