Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “scumball” come from?

scumball (English) comes from English -ball, from English Ball, from Middle English bal, from Old English beall, from English beal, from Old English hyll, from Albanian hulli, from Proto-Germanic hulliz — to rise, to be tall; hill.

scumball (English): Sleazy, disreputable, or despicable; A sleazy,...

Definitions

  1. Sleazy, disreputable, or despicable; A sleazy,...

Ancestry of “scumball”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1English-ball—
2EnglishBallsurname
3Middle EnglishbalA ball; A rounded or spherical lump or bump,...
4Old Englishbeallball
5EnglishbealA small inflammatory tumor; pustule; To gather...
6Old Englishhyllhill
7Albanianhullifurrow
8Proto-Germanichullizhill
9Proto-Indo-Europeankl̥Hníshill
10Proto-Indo-EuropeankelH-to rise, to be tall; hill
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kelH- →