Where does “shriek” come from?
Shriek comes from Middle English shrick, which derives from Proto-Germanic skrīkijaną, ultimately from Proto-Germanic skrīhaną.
shriek (English): A sharp, shrill outcry or scream; a shrill wild...
Definitions
- A sharp, shrill outcry or scream; a shrill wild...
Ancestry of “shriek”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | scrycke | — |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | skrīkijaną | to cry, scream, shriek |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | skrīhaną | to shout, scream; to cry out, proclaim |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)kerey- | to scream, screech; to scream, caw |