Etymology Explorer › Hawaiian

Where does “Haʻikū” come from?

Haʻikū (Hawaiian) comes from Hawaiian Kū, from English stew, from English steward, from Middle English steward, from Old English stiġweard, from Old English weard, from Old English ōra, from Old English ēar — to constrict, tighten, compress; narrow, tight;...

Ancestry of “Haʻikū”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1HawaiianKū—
2EnglishstewA cooking-dish used for boiling; a cauldron; A...
3EnglishstewardA person who manages the property or affairs for...
4Middle Englishsteward—
5Old Englishstiġweard—
6Old Englishweardguard; guard, the action of looking out for...
7Old Englishōraore, unwrought metal
8Old Englishēarsea, ocean; grave, earth
9Proto-Germanicahazear
10Proto-Finnicahtasnarrow, cramped
11Proto-Balticanśtas—
12Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂énǵʰusnarrow, tight
13Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂enǵʰ-to constrict, tighten, compress; narrow, tight;...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂enǵʰ- →