Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “uphill” come from?

Uphill combines Old English upp with Old English hyll, tracing through Proto-Germanic ub and ultimately Proto-Indo-European kelH-, which may relate to concepts of elevation or rising.

uphill (English): Up a slope, towards higher ground; With...

Definitions

  1. Up a slope, towards higher ground; With...

Ancestry of “uphill”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishHilla surname
2Middle Englishhil—
3Old Englishhyllhill
4Albanianhullifurrow
5Proto-Germanichullizhill
6Proto-Indo-Europeankl̥Hníshill
7Proto-Indo-EuropeankelH-to rise, to be tall; hill

Words derived from “uphill”

  • uphillward
  • uphiller
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kelH- →