Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “rock” come from?

Rock derives from Middle English rokken, from Arabic ruhh, from Proto-Indo-European kreg-, and partly from Proto-Indo-European en.

rock (English): A formation of minerals, specifically; A large...

Definitions

  1. A formation of minerals, specifically; A large...

Ancestry of “rock”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishrockea distaff
2Old Englishroccrock
3Proto-Germanicrukjaną—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanrewǵ-—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanrew-to roar, growl, grumble; to roar; growl; grumble;...

Words derived from “rock”

  • rocky
  • rocking
  • bedrock
  • Rockville
  • rockery
  • Rockhampton
  • rockfall
  • rockfish
  • rockwork
  • rockslide
  • sheetrock
  • Sheetrock
  • rocklike
  • rockbound
  • caprock
  • rimrock
  • rockfill
  • rockwool
  • rockweed
  • rockburst
  • rockstar
  • mudrock
  • rockiness
  • rocksteady
Every word from Proto-Indo-European rew- →