Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “hatstring” come from?

hatstring (English) comes from English string, from Middle English string, from Old English streng, from Proto-Germanic strangiz, from Proto-Indo-European strengʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European ster- — sterile, infertile.

hatstring (English): A string that fastens a hat on the wearer's head

Definitions

  1. A string that fastens a hat on the wearer's head

Ancestry of “hatstring”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishstringA long, thin and flexible structure made from...
2Middle Englishstring—
3Old Englishstrengstring
4Proto-Germanicstrangizstring
5Proto-Indo-Europeanstrengʰ-to twist; rope, cord
6Proto-Indo-Europeanster-sterile, infertile
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ster- →