Where does “earbanger” come from?
earbanger (English) comes from English ear, from Middle English ēre, from Old English ēare, from Proto-West Germanic auʀā, from Proto-Germanic ausô, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ṓws, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ew- — to enjoy; to consume; to perceive, see, to be...
earbanger (English): An obsequious member of the military who attempts to curry favor with superiors
Definitions
- An obsequious member of the military who attempts to curry favor with superiors
Ancestry of “earbanger”, step by step
earbanger traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English ear
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ear | The organ of hearing, consisting of the pinna,... |
| 2 | Middle English | ēre | The ear organ that receives sound |
| 3 | Old English | ēare | ear |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | auʀā | ear |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | ausô | ear |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ṓws | ear |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ew- | to enjoy; to consume; to perceive, see, to be... |
via English banger
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | banger | A thing or person which bangs, in any sense; A... |
| 2 | English | bang | A sudden percussive noise; A strike upon an... |
| 3 | Middle English | bangen | — |
| 4 | Old Norse | banga | to bang, pound, hammer |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | bang- | to bang; pound; beat |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰen- | to beat, hit, injure; to hit, strike, injure; to... |