Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “rock 'n' roll” come from?

rock 'n' roll (English) comes from English rock, from Middle English rocke, from Old English rocc, from Proto-Germanic rukjaną, from Proto-Indo-European rewǵ-, from Proto-Indo-European rew- — to roar, growl, grumble; to roar; growl; grumble;...

rock 'n' roll (English): Alternative spelling of rock and roll

Definitions

  1. Alternative spelling of rock and roll

Ancestry of “rock 'n' roll”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishrockA formation of minerals, specifically; A large...
2Middle Englishrockea distaff
3Old Englishroccrock
4Proto-Germanicrukjaną—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanrewǵ-—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanrew-to roar, growl, grumble; to roar; growl; grumble;...

Words derived from “rock 'n' roll”

  • рок-н-ролл
Every word from Proto-Indo-European rew- →