Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “horse” come from?

horse (Middle English) comes from Old English hors, from Proto-West Germanic hross, from Proto-Germanic hrussą, from Proto-Indo-European ḱers- — to run.

horse (Middle English): Alternative form of hors; Alternative form of...

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of hors; Alternative form of...

Ancestry of “horse”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishhorshorse
2Proto-West Germanichrosshorse
3Proto-Germanichrussąhorse
4Proto-Indo-Europeanḱers-to run

Words derived from “horse”

  • horse
  • horses
  • horsepower
  • hoss
  • horseradish
  • racehorse
  • horseflesh
  • workhorse
  • horseplay
  • horsewhip
  • warhorse
  • Whitehorse
  • horsewoman
  • horsey
  • packhorse
  • horseless
  • horseshit
  • sawhorse
  • horsemeat
  • horsy
  • carthorse
  • horsehide
  • ahorse
  • horsedealer
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱers- →