Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “ice” come from?

Ice comes from Middle English is, Old English is, Proto-Germanic īsą, and Proto-Indo-European h₁es-, a root meaning to be or exist.

ice (English): Water in frozen form; Any frozen volatile...

Definitions

  1. Water in frozen form; Any frozen volatile...

Ancestry of “ice”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishisice; That which is short-lived like ice; icy...
2Old Englishīsice
3Proto-West Germanicīsice
4Proto-Germanicīsąice
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁eyH-ice, frost

Words derived from “ice”

  • icy
  • iced
  • icing
  • icily
  • icebox
  • icebreaker
  • icehouse
  • iceman
  • iciness
  • icebound
  • icefall
  • icer
  • iceboat
  • icemaker
  • icefish
  • icebreaking
  • iceball
  • iceless
  • icelike
  • deicer
  • deice
  • icefloe
  • icescape
  • icemaking
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁eyH- →