Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “highflying” come from?

highflying (English) comes from English high, from Middle English heigh, from Old English hēah, from Old English hām, from Proto-West Germanic haim, from Proto-Germanic haimaz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱóymos, from Proto-Indo-European ḱey- — to be lying down; to settle.

highflying (English): Characteristic of a highflier; extravagant in...

Definitions

  1. Characteristic of a highflier; extravagant in...

Ancestry of “highflying”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishhighElevated, extending above a base or average...
2Middle Englishheighhigh; Alternative form of hey; Alternative form...
3Old Englishhēahhigh, tall, lofty, high-class, exalted, sublime,...
4Old Englishhāmhome; village, community; village, hamlet, manor,...
5Proto-West Germanichaimhome
6Proto-Germanichaimazhome; house; village
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱóymosof the home, belonging to the family; village,...
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱey-to be lying down; to settle
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱey- →