Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “stag” come from?

Stag comes from Middle English steg, from Old English stacga, from Proto-Germanic staggijô, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots stegʰ-, stek-, and steh₂- meaning to stand or be rigid.

stag (English): An adult male deer; A colt, or filly; A romping...

Definitions

  1. An adult male deer; A colt, or filly; A romping...

Ancestry of “stag”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishstaggeAn adult male deer; A colt or filly; A male...
2Old Englishstacgastag
3Proto-Germanicstaggijôstag
4Proto-Indo-Europeanstegʰ-to be stiff, sting; rod, blade; to stick, sting,...

Words derived from “stag”

  • staghorn
  • staghound
  • staglike
  • staggy
  • stagette
Every word from Proto-Indo-European stegʰ- →