Where does “henchfolk” come from?

henchfolk (English) comes from English hench, from English haunch, from Middle English haunche, from Old French hanche, from Vulgar Latin hanca, from Frankish hanka, from Proto-Germanic ankijǭ, from Proto-Indo-European ang- — joint; corner, hirn; joint; lith.

henchfolk (English): henchpeople, henchmen

Definitions

  1. henchpeople, henchmen

Ancestry of “henchfolk”, step by step

henchfolk traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English hench

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishhenchThe narrow side of chimney stack, a haunch; The...
2EnglishhaunchThe area encompassing the upper thigh, hip and...
3Middle Englishhaunche
4Old Frenchhanchehip
5Vulgar Latinhancahip
6Frankishhanka
7Proto-Germanicankijǭankle; hip
8Proto-Indo-Europeanang-joint; corner, hirn; joint; lith

via English folk

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfolkOf or pertaining to the inhabitants of a land,...
2Germanvolkpeople, nation, folk, tribe, race group united by culture, history, descent, and/or language
3Middle High Germanvolc
4Old High Germanfolcfolk; people collectively, nation; people, nation
5Proto-West Germanicfolkpeople, tribe
6Proto-Germanicfulkąpeople; tribe
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpleh₁-to fill
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ang-Every word from Proto-Germanic ankijǭEvery word from Frankish hanka