Where does “heightmap” come from?

heightmap (English) comes from English height, from Middle English heighte, from Old English hēahþu, from Proto-Germanic hauhiþō, from Proto-Germanic hauhaz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱewk- — flare up, glow; white; to glow, burn, lighten.

heightmap (English): A two-dimensional raster image used to store...

Definitions

  1. A two-dimensional raster image used to store...

Ancestry of “heightmap”, step by step

heightmap traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English height

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishheightThe distance from the base of something to the...
2Middle Englishheighte
3Old Englishhēahþu
4Proto-Germanichauhiþōheight
5Proto-Germanichauhazhigh
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱewk-flare up, glow; white; to glow, burn, lighten

via English map

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmapA visual representation of an area, whether real...
2Middle Englishmappemounde
3Old Frenchmapamondeworld map
4Latinmundusclean, pure; neat; nice, fine, elegant,...
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanmewH-to wash, wet; to make wet, wash; wet
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱewk-
heightmap — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer