Where does “hover” come from?

Hover comes from Middle English hoveren, of uncertain origin and meaning.

hover (English): To float in the air; To linger or hang in one...

Definitions

  1. To float in the air; To linger or hang in one...

Ancestry of “hover”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishhoverenhover
2Middle Englishhovento linger, wait, hover, move aside, entertain,...
3Old Englishhōfian
4Proto-Germanichufōnąto house, lodge
5Proto-Germanichufąhill, elevated place; house, hall, estate
6Proto-Indo-Europeankeup-to arch, bend, buckle; a hollow
7Proto-Indo-Europeankeu-bend; vault, hole; to shine; light; bright

Words derived from “hover

Every word from Proto-Indo-European keu-