Where does “hardpack” come from?

hardpack (English) comes from English pack, from Middle English pakken, from Middle English -en, from Old English -en, from Old Norse -inn, from Proto-Norse -īna-, from Proto-Germanic -īnaz, from Proto-Indo-European -iHnos — adjectival suffix.

hardpack (English): A material compressed into a hard, smooth...

Definitions

  1. A material compressed into a hard, smooth...

Ancestry of “hardpack”, step by step

hardpack traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English pack

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpackA bundle made up and prepared to be carried;...
2Middle EnglishpakkenTo pack; to put into a pack or container; To...
3Middle English-enDenotes the past participle form when attached to...
4Old English-enmæġþ + API → mæġden; cocc + API → cycen, cicen;...
5Old Norse-innUsed to create adjectives from nouns, meaning...
6Proto-Norse-īna-
7Proto-Germanic-īnaz-en
8Proto-Indo-European-iHnosCreates adjectives of materials
9Proto-Indo-European-no-adjectival suffix

via English hard

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishhardHaving a severe property; presenting difficulty;...
2Old Frenchhardihardy; tough; durable
3Old Frenchhardirto harden
4Frankishhardijanto harden, to make hard
5Proto-Germanichardijanąto make hard, strong; to harden
6Proto-Germanicharduzhard; brave
7Proto-Indo-Europeankert-times; to weave, twist together; time
8Proto-Turkic*keŕ-to travel, tour
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -no-Every word from Middle English -enEvery word from Proto-Germanic -īnaz