Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “hearthstone” come from?

Hearthstone derives from Middle English hearthstone, combining hearth and stone, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European steh₂-, meaning to stand or be firm.

hearthstone (English): A flat stone used to form a hearth; The fireside,...

Definitions

  1. A flat stone used to form a hearth; The fireside,...

Ancestry of “hearthstone”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishhearthA brick, stone or cement floor to a fireplace or...
2Middle EnglishherthA hearth; a place where a fire is lighted; A...
3Old Englishheorþhearth
4Proto-West Germanicherþhearth, fireplace
5Proto-Germanicherþaz—
6Proto-Indo-Europeankérh₃-to-s—
7Proto-Indo-Europeankerh₃-to burn; to praise; to burn; fire, heat
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kerh₃- →