Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “harry” come from?

Harry comes from Middle English herien, from Old English herian, from Proto-Germanic harjōną and harjaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ker- and the suffix -eh₂.

harry (English): To plunder, pillage, assault; To make repeated...

Definitions

  1. To plunder, pillage, assault; To make repeated...

Ancestry of “harry”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishherienTo thank or commend; To recognise, glorify, or...
2Old Englishherġian—
3Frankishharjōn—
4Proto-Germanicharjōnąto overrun with an army; lay waste; ravage;...
5Proto-Indo-Europeankóryoswar; troops; army; war, troops
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱer-to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,...
7Proto-Indo-Europeankr̥-to turn, to bend
8Proto-Indo-Europeanker-army

Words derived from “harry”

  • harrier
  • harrisome
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ker- →