Where does “thundercrack” come from?
thundercrack (English) comes from English crack, from Middle English crak, from Old Norse kráka, from Proto-Germanic *krakǭ, from Proto-Germanic krakōną, from Proto-Indo-European ǵerh₂- — to grow old, to mature.
thundercrack (English): A peal of thunder; thunderclap
Definitions
- A peal of thunder; thunderclap
Ancestry of “thundercrack”, step by step
thundercrack traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English crack
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | crack | To form cracks; To break apart under pressure; To... |
| 2 | Middle English | crak | loud conversation, bragging talk |
| 3 | Old Norse | kráka | crow |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | *krakǭ | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | krakōną | to crack; crackle; shriek |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵerh₂- | to grow old, to mature |
via English thunder
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | thunder | The loud rumbling, cracking, or crashing sound... |
| 2 | Middle English | thunder | Alternative form of thonder |
| 3 | Old English | Þunor | the Anglo-Saxon god of thunder, equivalent to Old Norse Þórr and Old High German Donar |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | þunr | thunder |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | Þunraz | Thor, god of thunder |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)ten- | to thunder, rustle, rumble, drone, groan; to... |