Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “cake” come from?

cake (Middle English) comes from Old Norse kaka, from Proto-Germanic kakǭ, from Proto-Indo-European gōg- — round, ball-shaped object; lump; clump.

cake (Middle English): cake; A cake prepared to cure disease or illness;...

Definitions

  1. cake; A cake prepared to cure disease or illness;...

Ancestry of “cake”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norsekakacake
2Proto-Germanickakǭcake
3Proto-Indo-Europeangōg-round, ball-shaped object; lump; clump

Words derived from “cake”

  • cake
  • cakes
  • pancake
  • cheesecake
  • cupcake
  • cakewalk
  • fruitcake
  • shortcake
  • yellowcake
  • oatcake
  • oilcake
  • beefcake
  • plumcake
  • hoecake
  • teacake
  • seedcake
  • bridecake
  • fishcake
  • cakelike
  • corncake
  • babycakes
  • sweetcakes
  • hotcake
  • pancakelike
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gōg- →