Where does “big” come from?

Big derives from Middle English big, from Old Norse byggja, from Proto-Germanic bugjaną, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰewgʰ-, itself from Proto-Indo-European bʰuH-.

big (English): Of great size, large; Thought to have undue...

Definitions

  1. Of great size, large; Thought to have undue...

Ancestry of “big”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishbig—
2Proto-Germanicbugja-swollen up, thick
3Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰew-to grow, swell; to swell, wax, grow; to blow; to...

Words derived from “big”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰew- →Every word from Proto-Germanic bugja- →Every word from Middle English big →