Etymology Explorer › English

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 Englishhoveren—
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”

  • hovering
  • hovercraft
  • windhover
  • hoverfly
  • hovercycle
  • hoverboard
  • hoverer
  • hoveringly
  • hovereth
  • hovercar
  • hoverport
  • hoverest
  • hoverchair
  • hoverbike
  • hoverjet
  • hovertrain
  • hoverable
  • hoverbarge
  • hovercard
  • hovercam
  • hoverboarder
  • hoverboarding
  • ховеркрафт
  • hovercraft
Every word from Proto-Indo-European keu- →