Where does “hulk” come from?

Hulk comes from Middle English holken and holc, from Old English holc, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱel-, a root meaning to conceal or cover.

hulk (English): A non-functional but floating ship, usually...

Definitions

  1. A non-functional but floating ship, usually...

Ancestry of “hulk”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishhulk—
2Old Englishhulclight ship, hulk; heavy, clumsy ship
3Proto-Germanichulkazcavity, hollow, recess; a hollow
4Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline

Words derived from “hulk”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- →Every word from Proto-Germanic hulkaz →Every word from Old English hulc →