Where does “henhouse” come from?
Henhouse derives from Middle English hen combined with Middle English -en, ultimately tracing through Proto-Germanic hūsą to Proto-Indo-European roots including éǵh₂, ḱe-, ne-, and en.
henhouse (English): A small house or hutch for chickens or, more...
Definitions
- A small house or hutch for chickens or, more...
Ancestry of “henhouse”, step by step
henhouse traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English hen
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | hen | A female chicken (Gallus gallus), especially a sexually mature one kept for her eggs |
| 2 | Middle English | hen | hen, chicken; female bird |
| 3 | Old English | henn | hen |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *hannju | hen |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | hanjō | hen |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | keh₂n- | to sing |
via English House
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | House | A particular chamber of political representation |
| 2 | Middle English | hous | house, residence; house of worship, temple;... |
| 3 | Old English | hūs | dwelling, shelter, house; house |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | hūs | house |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | hūsą | house |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)kewH- | to cover, bedeck; cover |