Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “ridge” come from?

Ridge comes from Middle English rigge, from Old English hryċġ, from Proto-Germanic hrugjaz, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kreuk-, from (s)ker-, ultimately from sek-.

ridge (English): The back of any animal; especially the upper or...

Definitions

  1. The back of any animal; especially the upper or...

Ancestry of “ridge”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishrigge—
2Old Englishhryċġridge; back, spine, ridge, elevated surface
3Old Englishtūnenclosure, yard; place; dwelling
4Proto-West Germanictūnfence
5Proto-Germanictūnąfence; enclosure
6Gaulishdunumfort; hill, hillfort
7Proto-Celticdūnomstronghold, rampart
8Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewh₂-smoke; mist, haze

Words derived from “ridge”

  • ridgeline
  • Ridgewood
  • ridgepole
  • ridgy
  • ridgetop
  • ridgeway
  • ridgelike
  • ridgelet
  • enridge
  • ridgehand
  • ridgepiece
  • ridgeside
  • ridgeling
  • ridgeless
  • ridgeplate
  • interridge
  • ridgewalking
  • ridge beam
  • ridgehead
  • ridgy-didge
  • ridgerope
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂- →