Where does “reek” come from?

reek (Scots) comes from Middle English rek, from Old English rēc, from Proto-West Germanic rauki, from Proto-Germanic raukiz, from Proto-Indo-European rewǵ-, from Proto-Indo-European rew- — to roar, growl, grumble; to roar; growl; grumble;...

reek (Scots): Vapour; steam; smoke; fume; A morning mist rising...

Definitions

  1. Vapour; steam; smoke; fume; A morning mist rising...

Ancestry of “reek”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishrekdrift; thing tossed ashore; jetsam
2Old Englishrēcsmoke
3Proto-West Germanicraukismoke
4Proto-Germanicraukizsmoke, vapour
5Proto-Indo-Europeanrewǵ-—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanrew-to roar, growl, grumble; to roar; growl; grumble;...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European rew- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European rewǵ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic raukiz →