Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “pickerel” come from?

Pickerel derives from Middle English pikerel, a diminutive of Middle English pyke, from Old English pīc, from Proto-Germanic pīkaz, originally meaning a sharp or pointed thing.

pickerel (English): A freshwater fish of the genus "Esox"; Walleye, A...

Definitions

  1. A freshwater fish of the genus "Esox"; Walleye, A...

Ancestry of “pickerel”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishpikerelA pickerel that is not fully grown
2Middle EnglishpykeA sharp round point or projection; A point or end...
3Old Englishpīcpointed object, pick axe
4Proto-Germanic*pīk—
5Latinpixpitch, tar
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpik-to be angry; pitch; resin
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpi-sap, juice

Words derived from “pickerel”

  • pickerelweed
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pi- →