Where does “Holskaerbs” come from?

Holskaerbs (Pennsylvania German) comes from English hols, from English Holiday, from Middle English halyday, from Old English hāliġdæġ — holy day, Sabbath.

Holskaerbs (Pennsylvania German): winter crookneck squash

Definitions

  1. winter crookneck squash

Ancestry of “Holskaerbs”, step by step

Holskaerbs traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English hols

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishholsHolidays
2EnglishHolidayThe holiday season or Christmas season, especially when paired with a year
3Middle EnglishhalydayA religious holiday or celebration
4Old Englishhāliġdæġholy day, Sabbath

via Pennsylvania German Kaerbs

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Pennsylvania GermanKaerbspumpkin
Every word from Old English hāliġdæġEvery word from Middle English halydayEvery word from English Holiday