Where does “hillbilly” come from?
Hillbilly comes from English hill and English Billy, a nickname from English William, ultimately derived from Proto-Germanic hulliz and Proto-Indo-European kolən-, both meaning to cover or conceal.
hillbilly (English): Someone who is from the hills; especially from a...
Definitions
- Someone who is from the hills; especially from a...
Ancestry of “hillbilly”, step by step
hillbilly traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Billy
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Billy | The B-25 twin-engine bomber aircraft used during World War Two, commonly called the "B-25 Mitchell" in honor of U.S. Army General William "Billy" Mitchell |
| 2 | English | Bill | A nickname for the British constabulary. Often called "The Bill" or "Old Bill" |
| 3 | Middle English | bill | — |
| 4 | Old English | bil | a kind of sword or other bladed weapon,... |
| 5 | Frankish | billi | — |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | bilją | a cutting implement; blade; axe; sword; spike;... |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | harjaz | army; army leader; commander; warrior |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | kóryos | war; troops; army; war, troops |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱer- | to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,... |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | kr̥- | to turn, to bend |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | ker- | army |