Where does “henpeckery” come from?
henpeckery (English) comes from English henpeck, 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 — sap, juice.
henpeckery (English): henpecking behaviour
Definitions
- henpecking behaviour
Ancestry of “henpeckery”, step by step
henpeckery traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English henpeck
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | henpeck | To nag persistently; A man who is meekly... |
| 2 | English | peck | To strike or pierce with the beak or bill; To... |
| 3 | Middle English | pecken | Alternative form of piken |
| 4 | Middle English | piken | To pick at; to use a edged tool on; To pierce or... |
| 5 | Middle English | pyke | A sharp round point or projection; A point or end... |
| 6 | Old English | pīc | pointed object, pick axe |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | *pīk | — |
| 8 | Latin | pix | pitch, tar |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | pik- | to be angry; pitch; resin |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | pi- | sap, juice |
via English ery
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ery | — |