Where does “hallmark” come from?
Hallmark comes from Middle English hallmark, from Old English hamermark, from Proto-Germanic *hamra- and *markō, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱel-, meaning to strike or mark.
hallmark (English): A distinguishing characteristic; An official...
Definitions
- A distinguishing characteristic; An official...
Ancestry of “hallmark”, step by step
hallmark traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Mark
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Mark | Abbreviation of Markarian |
| 2 | German | mark | mark any of various European monetary units |
| 3 | Latin | Mārcus | — |
| 4 | Latin | Martīnus | — |
| 5 | Latin | -īnus | of or pertaining to; -ine |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | -īnos | of/belonging to |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -iHnos | Creates adjectives of materials |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -no- | adjectival suffix |
via English Hall
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Hall | Hall class, a class of steam locomotive used on... |
| 2 | Middle English | halle | hall; Alternative form of hale; Alternative form... |
| 3 | Old English | heall | a hall; residence; a large room forming part of a... |
| 4 | Frankish | hallu | large room, hall; hall |
| 5 | Finnish | halu | desire; urge, itch |
| 6 | Finnish | halata | to hug, embrace; to want |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | halōną | to call, appoint, summon; to fetch, get |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱelh₁- | to warm up, to be hot; to warm up, be hot |