Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “prickhead” come from?

prickhead (English) comes from English prick, from Middle English prikken, from Old English prician, from Old English prica, from Proto-Slavic perti, from Proto-Balto-Slavic per-, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.

prickhead (English): A jerk; a mean or rude person

Definitions

  1. A jerk; a mean or rude person

Ancestry of “prickhead”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishprickA small hole or perforation, caused by piercing;...
2Middle Englishprikkento prick, pierce
3Old Englishpricianto prick
4Old Englishpricaprick, hole, perforation; point, dot; jot, whit;...
5Proto-Slavicpertito push, to press; to oppose
6Proto-Balto-Slavicper-—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →