Where does “hussy” come from?
Hussy derives from Middle English hussif, a contemptuous shortening of huswif (housewife), from Old English hūs (house) and wif (woman), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots for dwelling and woman.
hussy (English): A housewife or housekeeper; A sexually immoral...
Definitions
- A housewife or housekeeper; A sexually immoral...
Ancestry of “hussy”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | hussive | — |
| 2 | Middle English | houswyf | — |
| 3 | Middle English | hous | house, residence; house of worship, temple;... |
| 4 | Old English | hūs | dwelling, shelter, house; house |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | hūs | house |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | hūsą | house |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)kewH- | to cover, bedeck; cover |
Words derived from “hussy”