Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “huffish” come from?

huffish (English) comes from English huff, from English hough, from Middle English hough, from Old English hōh, from Proto-West Germanic *hą̄h, from Proto-Germanic hanhaz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱenk- — to hang.

huffish (English): Disposed to be blustering or arrogant; petulant

Definitions

  1. Disposed to be blustering or arrogant; petulant

Ancestry of “huffish”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishhuffA heavy breath; a grunt or sigh; An expression of...
2EnglishhoughThe hollow behind the knee; To hamstring;...
3Middle Englishhough—
4Old Englishhōhheel, hough; hill spur, promontory; promontory
5Proto-West Germanic*hą̄h—
6Proto-Germanichanhazheel
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱenk-to hang

Words derived from “huffish”

  • huffishly
  • huffishness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱenk- →