Where does “burrow” come from?
Burrow comes from Middle English burye, whose ultimate origin and meaning remain uncertain.
burrow (English): A tunnel or hole, often as dug by a small...
Definitions
- A tunnel or hole, often as dug by a small...
Ancestry of “burrow”, step by step
burrow traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English borough
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | borough | A fortified town; A town or city; A town having a... |
| 2 | Middle English | borwe | A pledge or security asset deposited as guarantee |
| 3 | Old English | burh | Alternative form of burg; fortress; hill |
| 4 | Old English | burg | city; town; a fortified place: stronghold, fort,... |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | burgz | fortification, stronghold; city |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰr̥ǵʰ- | — |
via Middle English borowe
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | borowe | — |