Where does “henpeck” come from?
henpeck (English) comes from English peck, from Middle English pecken, from Middle English piken, from Middle English pyke, from Old English pīc, from Proto-Germanic *pīk, from Latin pix, from Proto-Indo-European pik- — sap, juice.
henpeck (English): To nag persistently; A man who is meekly...
Definitions
- To nag persistently; A man who is meekly...
Ancestry of “henpeck”, step by step
henpeck traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English peck
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | peck | To strike or pierce with the beak or bill; To... |
| 2 | Middle English | pecken | Alternative form of piken |
| 3 | Middle English | piken | To pick at; to use a edged tool on; To pierce or... |
| 4 | Middle English | pyke | A sharp round point or projection; A point or end... |
| 5 | Old English | pīc | pointed object, pick axe |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | *pīk | — |
| 7 | Latin | pix | pitch, tar |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pik- | to be angry; pitch; resin |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | pi- | sap, juice |