Where does “hillside” come from?

Hillside derives from Middle English hillside, composed of Old English hyll and sīdǭ from Proto-Germanic, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to cut or divide.

hillside (English): The side of a hill

Definitions

  1. The side of a hill

Ancestry of “hillside”, step by step

hillside traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Side

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishSideA bounding straight edge of a two-dimensional shape
2Middle Englishsidecustom
3Old Englishsīdeside, flank
4Proto-West Germanic*sīdāside
5Medieval Latinsida
6Late LatinsetaAlternative form of saeta; hair, bristle; bristle
7Latinsaetaa bristle, hair on an animal; silk
8Proto-Italicsaitā
9Proto-Indo-Europeanséh₂ito-
10Proto-Indo-Europeansh₂ey-to bind, fetter
11Proto-Indo-Europeanseh₂-to satiate, satisfy

via English Hill

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishHilla surname
2Middle Englishhilhill
3Old Englishhyllhill
4Albanianhullifurrow
5Proto-Germanichullizhill
6Proto-Indo-Europeankl̥Hníshill
7Proto-Indo-EuropeankelH-to rise, to be tall; hill
Every word from Proto-Indo-European seh₂-Every word from Proto-Indo-European sh₂ey-Every word from Proto-Indo-European séh₂ito-