Where does “househelp” come from?
househelp (English) comes from English help, from Middle English help, from Old English help, from Proto-West Germanic helpu, from Proto-Germanic helpō, from Proto-Indo-European ḱelb- — help.
househelp (English): A servant employed to perform household tasks
Definitions
- A servant employed to perform household tasks
Ancestry of “househelp”, step by step
househelp traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English help
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | help | Action given to provide assistance; aid;... |
| 2 | Middle English | help | — |
| 3 | Old English | help | help |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | helpu | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | helpō | help, aid, assistance |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱelb- | help |
via English House
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | House | A particular chamber of political representation |
| 2 | Middle English | hous | house, residence; house of worship, temple;... |
| 3 | Old English | hūs | dwelling, shelter, house; house |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | hūs | house |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | hūsą | house |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)kewH- | to cover, bedeck; cover |