Where does “wolfpack” come from?

wolfpack (English) comes from English pack, from Middle English pakken, from Middle English -en, from Old English -en, from Old Norse -inn, from Proto-Norse -īna-, from Proto-Germanic -īnaz, from Proto-Indo-European -iHnos — adjectival suffix.

wolfpack (English): A family or other group of wild wolves; During...

Definitions

  1. A family or other group of wild wolves; During...

Ancestry of “wolfpack”, step by step

wolfpack traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English pack

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpackA bundle made up and prepared to be carried;...
2Middle EnglishpakkenTo pack; to put into a pack or container; To...
3Middle English-enDenotes the past participle form when attached to...
4Old English-enmæġþ + API → mæġden; cocc + API → cycen, cicen;...
5Old Norse-innUsed to create adjectives from nouns, meaning...
6Proto-Norse-īna-
7Proto-Germanic-īnaz-en
8Proto-Indo-European-iHnosCreates adjectives of materials
9Proto-Indo-European-no-adjectival suffix

via English Wolf

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishWolfThe constellation Lupus
2Middle Englishwolfwolf, lupine; terrifying person
3Old Englishwulfwolf
4Proto-West Germanicwulfwolf
5Proto-Germanicwulfazwolf
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwĺ̥kʷoswolf
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -no-