Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “sky” come from?

Sky comes from Middle English sky, from Old Norse ský, from Proto-Germanic skiwją, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kew-.

sky (English): The atmosphere above a given point, especially as...

Definitions

  1. The atmosphere above a given point, especially as...

Ancestry of “sky”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishskyThe atmosphere or sky; that which lies above the...
2Old Norseskýcloud
3Proto-Germanicskiwjącloud; sky
4Proto-Indo-European(s)kewH-to cover, bedeck; cover

Words derived from “sky”

  • skies
  • skyline
  • skylight
  • skyward
  • skyscraper
  • skylark
  • skied
  • skyrocket
  • skywards
  • skylarking
  • skyey
  • skydiver
  • skybox
  • skydive
  • skysail
  • skyway
  • skywriting
  • skyhook
  • skyscape
  • skylit
  • skyscraping
  • skywalk
  • skyclad
  • Skynet
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)kewH- →