Where does “upper house” come from?

upper house (English) comes from English House, from Middle English hous, from Old English hūs, from Proto-West Germanic hūs, from Proto-Germanic hūsą, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kewH- — to cover, bedeck; cover.

upper house (English): The upper legislative house in a bicameral legislature; usually smaller and having more restricted power than the lower house

Definitions

  1. The upper legislative house in a bicameral legislature; usually smaller and having more restricted power than the lower house

Ancestry of “upper house”, step by step

upper house traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English House

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishHouseA particular chamber of political representation
2Middle Englishhoushouse, residence; house of worship, temple;...
3Old Englishhūsdwelling, shelter, house; house
4Proto-West Germanichūshouse
5Proto-Germanichūsąhouse
6Proto-Indo-European(s)kewH-to cover, bedeck; cover

via English upper

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishupperAt a higher level, rank or position; Situated on...
2Middle Englishupper
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)kewH-