Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “ax” come from?

ax (Middle English) comes from Old English eax, from Proto-Germanic ahsō, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eḱs-, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ- — to drive.

ax (Middle English): An axe; An axle, axletree, pole

Definitions

  1. An axe; An axle, axletree, pole

Ancestry of “ax”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englisheaxaxis, axle
2Proto-Germanicahsōaxle
3Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eḱs-axis, axle
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eǵ-to drive

Words derived from “ax”

  • axe
  • axeman
  • poleaxe
  • broadaxe
  • poleax
  • axeth
  • axelike
  • axeblade
  • axeless
  • axewoman
  • pollax
  • axe-murder
  • axless
  • axe murderer
  • アックス
  • ex
  • akis
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ- →