Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “snake” come from?

Snake derives from Middle English snake, from Old English snaca, from Proto-Germanic snakô and snakaną, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European sneg-, of unknown meaning.

snake (English): A legless reptile of the sub-order Serpentes with...

Definitions

  1. A legless reptile of the sub-order Serpentes with...

Ancestry of “snake”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishsnakesnake; serpent
2Old Englishsnacasnake
3Proto-Germanicsnakôsnake
4Proto-Germanicsnakanąto crawl
5Proto-Indo-Europeansneg-to crawl, creeping thing

Words derived from “snake”

  • rattlesnake
  • snaky
  • snakebite
  • snakelike
  • snakeskin
  • snakehead
  • snakeroot
  • blacksnake
  • snakish
  • kingsnake
  • snakeweed
  • snakewood
  • snakily
  • snakebit
  • bullsnake
  • snakestone
  • snakeless
  • snakebitten
  • snakeproof
  • snakewise
  • antisnake
  • snakebird
  • snakeling
  • snakiness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sneg- →