Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “superheavyweight” come from?

superheavyweight (English) comes from English heavyweight, from English heavy, from English heave, from Middle English heven, from Old English hebban, from Proto-West Germanic habbjan, from Proto-Germanic habjaną, from Proto-Indo-European kh₂pyé- — to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...

superheavyweight (English): Of or pertaining to the weight class for boxers...

Definitions

  1. Of or pertaining to the weight class for boxers...

Ancestry of “superheavyweight”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishheavyweightA very large, heavy, or impressive person; The...
2EnglishheavyHaving great weight; Serious, somber; Not easy to...
3EnglishheaveTo lift with difficulty; to raise with some...
4Middle EnglishhevenTo raise, lift, heave; Alternative form of haven
5Old Englishhebbanto lift, raise
6Proto-West Germanichabbjanto have; to lift
7Proto-Germanichabjanąto have, to hold; to lift, heave
8Proto-Indo-Europeankh₂pyé-—
9Proto-Indo-Europeankeh₂p-to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European keh₂p- →