Where does “laughing” come from?

Laughing derives from Middle English lawghynge, formed from Middle English -ing added to Old English -ing and Old English -ung, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European klek-.

laughing (English): The action of the verb to laugh; present...

Definitions

  1. The action of the verb to laugh; present...

Ancestry of “laughing”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishlaughyngeLaughing; the making of laughs
2Middle EnglishlaughenTo laugh; to break out in laughter or laughing;...
3Old Englishhlæhhan—
4Proto-West Germanichlahhjanto laugh
5Proto-Germanichlahjanąto laugh
6Proto-Indo-Europeanklek-to laugh, cackle

Words derived from “laughing”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European klek- →Every word from Proto-Germanic hlahjaną →Every word from Proto-West Germanic hlahhjan →