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
- female equivalent of henchman
Ancestry of “henchwoman”, step by step
henchwoman traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English hench
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | hench | The narrow side of chimney stack, a haunch; The... |
| 2 | English | haunch | The area encompassing the upper thigh, hip and... |
| 3 | Middle English | haunche | — |
| 4 | Old French | hanche | hip |
| 5 | Vulgar Latin | hanca | hip |
| 6 | Frankish | hanka | — |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | ankijǭ | ankle; hip |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ang- | joint; corner, hirn; joint; lith |
via English woman
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | woman | An adult female human; All female humans... |
| 2 | Middle English | womman | An female adult person; a woman; The female sex... |
| 3 | Old English | wīfmann | woman; female servant; woman |
| 4 | Old English | mann | person; man meaning mankind; man meaning adult... |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | mann | person, human |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | *mann- | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | men- | to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,... |