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”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)kel- →
half — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer