Where does “roughhouse” come from?

roughhouse (English) comes from English rough, from English ruff, from German Ruf, from Middle High German ruof, from Old High German ruof, from Old High German ruofan, from Proto-West Germanic hrōpan, from Proto-Germanic hrōpaną — army.

roughhouse (English): rowdy behaviour; To behave rowdily or violently;...

Definitions

  1. rowdy behaviour; To behave rowdily or violently;...

Ancestry of “roughhouse”, step by step

roughhouse traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English rough

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishroughNot smooth; uneven; Approximate; hasty or...
2EnglishruffA circular frill or ruffle on a garment,...
3GermanRufcall; reputation
4Middle High Germanruof
5Old High Germanruof
6Old High Germanruofanto call
7Proto-West Germanichrōpanto cry out, to call, to shout
8Proto-Germanichrōpanąto cry out, call, shout
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱer-to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,...
10Proto-Indo-Europeankr̥-to turn, to bend
11Proto-Indo-Europeanker-army

via English House

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishHouseA particular chamber of political representation
2Middle Englishhoushouse, residence; house of worship, temple;...
3Old Englishhūsdwelling, shelter, house; house
4Proto-West Germanichūshouse
5Proto-Germanichūsąhouse
6Proto-Indo-European(s)kewH-to cover, bedeck; cover

Words derived from “roughhouse

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ker-
roughhouse — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer