Where does “hammer” come from?

Hammer comes from Middle English hamer, from Old English hamor, from Proto-Germanic hamaraz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂eḱ-, a root meaning to strike.

hammer (English): A tool with a heavy head and a handle used for...

Definitions

  1. A tool with a heavy head and a handle used for...

Ancestry of “hammer”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishhamerA hammer; A fierce individual; one with strong...
2Old Englishhamorhammer
3Proto-West Germanic*hamar—
4Proto-Germanichamarazhammer
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eḱmoros—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éḱmōstone
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eḱ-sharp

Words derived from “hammer”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eḱ- →
hammer — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer