Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “hoar” come from?

Hoar derives from Middle English hore, from Middle English her, which continues Proto-Indo-European kāro-, ultimately from the root (s)ker-.

hoar (English): A white or greyish-white colour; Hoariness;...

Definitions

  1. A white or greyish-white colour; Hoariness;...

Ancestry of “hoar”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishhorAlternative form of her; Grey, greyish,...
2Old Englishhērat this place
3Proto-West Germanic*hēr—
4Proto-Germanichē₂rhere, in this place
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
6Middle Englishkyt—
7Germankitt—
8Old High Germankuti—
9Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
10Proto-Germanickweduzresin
11Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
12Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “hoar”

  • hoary
  • hoared
  • hoarily
  • hoarhead
  • hoarwithy
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →