Where does “holken” come from?

holken (Middle English) comes from Middle English holk, from Old English holc, from Proto-Germanic hulkaz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- — to cover; to incline.

holken (Middle English): to dig, excavate

Definitions

  1. to dig, excavate

Ancestry of “holken”, step by step

holken traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Middle English holk

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishholka hollow part, cavity
2Old Englishholchole, cavity
3Proto-Germanichulkazcavity, hollow, recess; a hollow
4Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline

via Proto-Germanic hulaz

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Germanichulazhollow
2Proto-Indo-EuropeankuH-—

via Old English *holcian

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old English*holcianto make hollow, gouge

Words derived from “holken”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- →Every word from Proto-Germanic hulkaz →Every word from Old English holc →