Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “hackberry” come from?

hackberry (English) comes from English hagberry, from English hag, from Middle English hag, from Old Norse hǫgg, from Proto-Germanic hawwą, from Proto-Germanic hawwaną, from Proto-Celtic sukkos, from Proto-Indo-European suH- — to press out, extract; juice; liquid, rain; to...

hackberry (English): Any of several deciduous trees of the genus...

Definitions

  1. Any of several deciduous trees of the genus...

Ancestry of “hackberry”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishhagberry"Prunus padus", a species of cherry native to...
2EnglishhagA witch, sorceress, or enchantress; a wizard; An...
3Middle Englishhag—
4Old Norsehǫgga blow, strike
5Proto-Germanichawwąblow, hit
6Proto-Germanichawwanąto hew, to chop; to forge
7Proto-Celticsukkos—
8Proto-Indo-EuropeansuH-pig, hog, swine
9Proto-Indo-EuropeansewH-to bear; to give birth
10Proto-Indo-Europeansew-to press out, extract; juice; liquid, rain; to...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sew- →