Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “nonheavyweight” come from?

nonheavyweight (English) comes from English heavyweight, from English heavy, from English heave, from Middle English heven, from Old English hebban, from Proto-West Germanic habbjan, from Proto-Germanic habjaną, from Proto-Indo-European kh₂pyé- — to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...

nonheavyweight (English): In a weight class other than heavyweight

Definitions

  1. In a weight class other than heavyweight

Ancestry of “nonheavyweight”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishheavyweightA very large, heavy, or impressive person; The...
2EnglishheavyHaving great weight; Serious, somber; Not easy to...
3EnglishheaveTo lift with difficulty; to raise with some...
4Middle EnglishhevenTo raise, lift, heave; Alternative form of haven
5Old Englishhebbanto lift, raise
6Proto-West Germanichabbjanto have; to lift
7Proto-Germanichabjanąto have, to hold; to lift, heave
8Proto-Indo-Europeankh₂pyé-—
9Proto-Indo-Europeankeh₂p-to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European keh₂p- →