Where does “birdhouse” come from?

birdhouse (English) comes from English House, from Middle English hous, from Old English hūs, from Proto-West Germanic hūs, from Proto-Germanic hūsą, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kewH- — to cover, bedeck; cover.

birdhouse (English): A small house for birds; An aviary

Definitions

  1. A small house for birds; An aviary

Ancestry of “birdhouse”, step by step

birdhouse traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English House

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishHouseA particular chamber of political representation
2Middle Englishhoushouse, residence; house of worship, temple;...
3Old Englishhūsdwelling, shelter, house; house
4Proto-West Germanichūshouse
5Proto-Germanichūsąhouse
6Proto-Indo-European(s)kewH-to cover, bedeck; cover

via English bird

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbirdA member of the class of animals Aves in the...
2Middle Englishbrida young bird, a bird in general; Alternative form...
3Old Englishbriddyoung bird, chick; chicken
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)kewH-Every word from Proto-Germanic hūsąEvery word from Proto-West Germanic hūs