Where does “agh” come from?

agh (Middle English) comes from Old Norse agi, from Proto-Germanic agaz, from Proto-Indo-European h₂égʰos, from Proto-Indo-European h₂egʰ- — to be upset, afraid.

Ancestry of “agh”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norseagiawe, terror; uproar, turbulence; discipline,...
2Proto-Germanicagazfear; dread
3Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂égʰosdistress
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂egʰ-to be upset, afraid
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂egʰ- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂égʰos →Every word from Proto-Germanic agaz →