Where does “ransack” come from?

Ransack comes from Middle English ransaken, from Old Norse rannsaka, meaning to search thoroughly, derived from Old Norse rann (house or room) and ultimately from Proto-Germanic razną and Proto-Indo-European seh₂g- (to seek or inquire).

ransack (English): To loot or pillage. "See also" sack; To make a...

Definitions

  1. To loot or pillage. "See also" sack; To make a...

Ancestry of “ransack”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishransakento pillage
2Old Norserannsakato investigate; to ransack
3Proto-Germanicsōkijanąto seek, look for
4Proto-Indo-Europeanséh₂gyetito give a sign
5Proto-Indo-Europeanseh₂g-to seek out

Words derived from “ransack”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European seh₂g- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European séh₂gyeti →Every word from Proto-Germanic sōkijaną →