Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “hike” come from?

Hike comes from Middle English hytchen, from Old English ġiċċan, from Proto-Germanic jukjaną, though the original meaning is uncertain.

hike (English): A long walk; An abrupt increase; The snap of the...

Definitions

  1. A long walk; An abrupt increase; The snap of the...

Ancestry of “hike”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishhykeAlternative form of haik; Alternative form of...
2EnglishHitch—
3EnglishRichard—
4Middle EnglishRycharde—
5Old FrenchRichard—
6Medieval LatinRichardus—
7FrankishRīkahard—
8Proto-GermanicRīkaharduzA male given name
9Proto-Germanicrīksking, ruler
10Proto-Celticrīxsking
11Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃rḗǵsking, ruler
12Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃reǵ-to straighten, to right oneself; right; just

Words derived from “hike”

  • hug
  • hiking
  • hiker
  • hitchhiker
  • hitchhike
  • hugger
  • huggable
  • huck
  • huggy
  • huckle
  • hoick
  • hugfest
  • hikeable
  • hucker
  • hucklebuck
  • hiphugger
  • unhuggable
  • hugless
  • huggle
  • huggability
  • huggest
  • huggee
  • huggably
  • pouncehug
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃reǵ- →