Where does “housekeeper” come from?
Housekeeper derives from English house and the agent suffix -er, with house coming from Middle English hus, from Proto-Germanic hūsą, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to dwell or inhabit.
housekeeper (English): Someone who owns a house as a place of residence;...
Definitions
- Someone who owns a house as a place of residence;...
Ancestry of “housekeeper”, step by step
housekeeper traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
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 |