Where does “holly” come from?

holly (Middle English) comes from Old English holeġn, from Proto-West Germanic hulis, from Proto-Indo-European kel- — to hit; beat; to pierce, to stab; goblet.

holly (Middle English): Alternative form of holy

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of holy

Ancestry of “holly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishholeġn—
2Proto-West Germanichulisholly
3Proto-Indo-Europeankel-to hit; beat; to pierce, to stab; goblet

Words derived from “holly”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European kel- →Every word from Proto-West Germanic hulis →Every word from Old English holeġn →