Where does “reeking” come from?
Reeking derives from English reek, connected through English rick and wrick to Proto-Germanic reukaną, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots h₃reǵ- and rew-.
reeking (English): present participle of reek; Totally stinking
Definitions
- present participle of reek; Totally stinking
Ancestry of “reeking”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | reek | A strong unpleasant smell; Vapour; steam; smoke;... |
| 2 | Middle English | reken | to smoke; to drive; move; tend |
| 3 | Old Norse | reka | shovel; to drive |
| 4 | Old Norse | vreka | to drive |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | wrekaną | to pursue, to drive out |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | wreǵ- | to work, act |
Words derived from “reeking”