Where does “Hexenbesen” come from?
Hexenbesen (German) comes from German Besen, from Middle High German bëseme, from Old High German besamo, from Proto-West Germanic besmō, from Proto-Germanic besmô, from Proto-Indo-European bʰés-mō ~ bʰs-m̥nés, from Proto-Indo-European bʰes- — wind; to blow, chew, rub; to rub, grind.
Hexenbesen (German): witch's broom
Definitions
- witch's broom
Ancestry of “Hexenbesen”, step by step
Hexenbesen traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via German Besen
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | Besen | broom |
| 2 | Middle High German | bëseme | — |
| 3 | Old High German | besamo | broom |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | besmō | branch, rod; broom |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | besmô | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰés-mō ~ bʰs-m̥nés | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰes- | wind; to blow, chew, rub; to rub, grind |
via German hexe
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | hexe | inflection of hexen: ## first-person singular... |
| 2 | Middle High German | hecse | — |
| 3 | Old High German | hagazussa | witch |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | hagatusjō | witch |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | hagaz | abled, capable; suitable, comfortable |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱak- | branch, pole; branch, stick; to be able, help |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | kek- / ḱek- / kekʰ- / ḱekʰ- | — |