Where does “hogshead” come from?
Hogshead derives from Middle English hoggeshed, a compound of Middle English hog from Old English hogg, related to Old Norse hǫggva meaning to cut or strike, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots kauput- and kapōlo.
hogshead (English): An English measure of capacity for liquids,...
Definitions
- An English measure of capacity for liquids,...
Ancestry of “hogshead”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | hogshead | — |
| 2 | Middle English | hog | A pig or swine, especially one that is castrated... |
| 3 | Old English | hogg | hog, especially a castrated male |
| 4 | Old Norse | hǫggva | to hew |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | hawwaną | to hew, to chop; to forge |
| 6 | Proto-Celtic | sukkos | pig (snout) |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | suH- | pig, hog, swine |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | sewH- | to bear; to give birth |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | sew- | to press out, extract; juice; liquid, rain; to... |