Where does “stalk” come from?
Stalk comes from Old English stealc, from Middle English stale, from Old French estal, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European steh₂-, meaning to stand or be firm.
stalk (English): The stem or main axis of a plant, which supports...
Definitions
- The stem or main axis of a plant, which supports...
Ancestry of “stalk”, step by step
stalk traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English stalken
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | stalken | to stalk |
| 2 | Old English | stealcian | to stalk |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | stalkaz | high, lofty, steep, stiff |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)tAlg- / -e- | to jut out, protrude |
via Old English stealc
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | stealc | lofty; steep, precipitous |