Where does “slaughterhouse” come from?
Slaughterhouse derives from English slaughter and house, where house comes from Middle English hus, from Proto-Germanic hūsą, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to dwell.
slaughterhouse (English): A place where animals are slaughtered; The scene...
Definitions
- A place where animals are slaughtered; The scene...
Ancestry of “slaughterhouse”, step by step
slaughterhouse traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English slaughter
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | slaughter | The killing of animals, generally for food; A... |
| 2 | Middle English | slaughter | — |
| 3 | Old Norse | slahtr | — |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | slahtrą | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | slahaną | to hit, to strike; to kill |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | slak- | to hit; strike; to hit, strike, throw; to hit,... |
via English House
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | House | A particular chamber of political representation |
| 2 | Middle English | hous | house, residence; house of worship, temple;... |
| 3 | Old English | hūs | dwelling, shelter, house; house |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | hūs | house |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | hūsą | house |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)kewH- | to cover, bedeck; cover |