Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “half” come from?

Half derives from Middle English half, from Old English healf, from Proto-Germanic halbaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European (s)kel-, meaning to cut or divide.

half (English): Consisting of a half; Consisting of some...

Definitions

  1. Consisting of a half; Consisting of some...

Ancestry of “half”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishhalfhalf
2Old Englishhealfside; half; partly
3Proto-Germanic*halb—
4Proto-Germanichalbazhalf
5Proto-Indo-European(s)kelH-to cut; to split, to separate
6Proto-Indo-European(s)kel-to bend, crook; bent, crooked; leg, heel, knee,...

Words derived from “half”

  • halves
  • halfhearted
  • halfheartedly
  • halfback
  • halfling
  • halflife
  • hapa
  • halfwit
  • halfspace
  • halfness
  • halfwave
  • halfwidth
  • halfheartedness
  • halfword
  • halfcourt
  • halfie
  • halfcock
  • halfer
  • halfmonth
  • halfen
  • halfbeak
  • halfsies
  • halfpike
  • halfpace
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)kel- →