Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “drumstick” come from?

Drumstick comes from Middle Dutch trommelslach, combining trommel (drum) and slach (blow or stroke), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European slak- meaning to strike.

drumstick (English): A stick used to play drums; The second joint of...

Definitions

  1. A stick used to play drums; The second joint of...

Ancestry of “drumstick”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdrumA percussive musical instrument spanned with a...
2EnglishdrumsladeA drum; A drummer
3Middle Dutchtrommelslachdrumbeat
4Middle Dutchslachbeat
5Old Dutchslag—
6Proto-West Germanicslagiblow, strike
7Swedishslagg—
8Low Germanslagge—
9Middle Low Germanslagge—
10Middle Low Germanslānto hit, strike
11Old Saxonslāhan—
12Proto-West Germanicslahanto hit, to strike; to kill
13Proto-Germanicslahanąto hit, to strike; to kill
14Proto-Indo-Europeanslak-to hit; strike; to hit, strike, throw; to hit,...

Words derived from “drumstick”

  • drumsticks
Every word from Proto-Indo-European slak- →