Where does “honking” come from?
Honking is an English word of imitative origin, formed from the verb honk, which reproduces the sound of a goose or horn.
honking (English): present participle of honk; A sound that honks;...
Definitions
- present participle of honk; A sound that honks;...
Ancestry of “honking”, step by step
honking traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English honkin'
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | honkin' | Emphatically or impressively big; really big;... |
| 2 | English | honkingly | With a honking sound; Greatly, hugely,... |
| 3 | English | ly | Abbreviation of light-year |
| 4 | Vietnamese | ly | Alternative spelling of li |
via English honk
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | honk | To use a car horn; To make a loud, harsh sound... |