Where does “hick” come from?
Hick derives from the English given name Richard, itself from Middle English Rycharde, Old French Richard, and Latin Ricohardus, with the original sense development unknown.
hick (English): An awkward, naive, clumsy and/or rude country...
Definitions
- An awkward, naive, clumsy and/or rude country...
Ancestry of “hick”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Hick | pet form of Richard |
| 2 | English | Richard | A turd |
| 3 | Middle English | Rycharde | — |
| 4 | Old French | Richard | — |
| 5 | Medieval Latin | Richardus | — |
| 6 | Frankish | Rīkahard | — |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | Rīkaharduz | A male given name |
| 8 | Proto-Germanic | rīks | king, ruler |
| 9 | Proto-Celtic | rīxs | king |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃rḗǵs | king, ruler |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃reǵ- | to straighten, to right oneself; right; just |