Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “notching” come from?

Notching derives from English notch, which developed from English an (the indefinite article), itself from English a, both traceable to Proto-Indo-European h₂en- and en through a complex semantic path involving the prefix meaning "one" or "toward."

notching (English): present participle of notch; A notched mark or...

Definitions

  1. present participle of notch; A notched mark or...

Ancestry of “notching”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishnotchA V-shaped cut; An indentation; A mountain pass;...
2Middle Frenchochenotch
3Old Frenchocher—
Every word from Old French ocher →