Where does “hellbilly” come from?
hellbilly (English) comes from English hillbilly, from English Billy, from English Bill, from Middle English bill, from Old English bil, from Frankish billi, from Proto-Germanic bilją, from Proto-Germanic harjaz — army.
hellbilly (English): A style of music and fashion influenced by punk, goth and country
Definitions
- A style of music and fashion influenced by punk, goth and country
Ancestry of “hellbilly”, step by step
hellbilly traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English hillbilly
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | hillbilly | Someone who is from the hills; especially from a... |
| 2 | English | Billy | The B-25 twin-engine bomber aircraft used during World War Two, commonly called the "B-25 Mitchell" in honor of U.S. Army General William "Billy" Mitchell |
| 3 | English | Bill | A nickname for the British constabulary. Often called "The Bill" or "Old Bill" |
| 4 | Middle English | bill | — |
| 5 | Old English | bil | a kind of sword or other bladed weapon,... |
| 6 | Frankish | billi | — |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | bilją | a cutting implement; blade; axe; sword; spike;... |
| 8 | Proto-Germanic | harjaz | army; army leader; commander; warrior |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | kóryos | war; troops; army; war, troops |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱer- | to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,... |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | kr̥- | to turn, to bend |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | ker- | army |
via English Hell
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Hell | Any of various places so named |
| 2 | German | hellen | to brighten |
| 3 | Middle High German | hëllen | to sound, to resound, to ring out; to echo |
| 4 | Old High German | hëllan | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | hellaną | to resound, make a sound |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱelh₁- | to warm up, to be hot; to warm up, be hot |