Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “hemm” come from?

hemm (Middle English) comes from Old English hemm, from Proto-West Germanic hammjan, from Proto-Germanic hamjaną, from Proto-Indo-European kem- — to press together; to hinder, to hamper; to...

Ancestry of “hemm”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishhemm—
2Proto-West GermanichammjanTo press; pinch; To obstruct; restrict; restrain;...
3Proto-GermanichamjanąTo press; pinch; To obstruct; restrict; restrain;...
4Proto-Indo-Europeankem-to press together; to hinder, to hamper; to...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kem- →