Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “henchwoman” come from?

henchwoman (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.

henchwoman (English): female equivalent of henchman

Definitions

  1. female equivalent of henchman

Ancestry of “henchwoman”, step by step

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
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ang- →