hound etymology

Etymology:

  • Old English "hund"
  • Proto-Germanic "*hundaz"
  • Proto-Indo-European "*kʷon- ("dog")"

Meaning:

  • A carnivorous quadruped mammal that is typically kept as a pet or for hunting, and has a keen sense of smell and loyalty to humans.

Origin:

The word "hound" has an ancient and diverse origin, dating back to the Proto-Indo-European period. Here is an overview of its etymology:

  • Proto-Indo-European ("*kʷon-"): The root "*kʷon-" meant "dog" and is thought to have originated from an onomatopoeic sound representing the barking of dogs.
  • Proto-Germanic ("*hundaz"): In Proto-Germanic, the root evolved into "*hundaz," which specifically referred to dogs used for hunting. This term was used to describe hounds' keen sense of smell and their loyalty to humans.
  • Old English ("hund"): In Old English, the word became "hund" and retained its meaning as a hunting dog. It was used to describe various breeds of dogs, including the greyhound and the scenthound.
  • Middle English and Modern English: In Middle English, "hund" was simplified to "hound," and its meaning expanded to include any breed of dog kept as a pet or for hunting. Over time, the word has come to be used primarily for breeds known for their hunting abilities, such as foxhounds and bloodhounds.

The word "hound" has cognates in many Germanic languages, including German "Hund," Dutch "hond," and Swedish "hund." It also has cognates in other Indo-European languages, such as Latin "canis" ("dog") and Greek "κύων" ("kyon" or "hound").

hound relate terms

  • bloodhound

    Etymology The term bloodhound is derived from the Middle English words blood and ho

  • blood

    Etymology Old English blōd Proto Germanic blōdam Proto Indo European bhlewdh bhe

  • hound

    Etymology Old English hund Proto Germanic hundaz Proto Indo European kʷon do

  • greyhound

    Etymology The word greyhound is derived from the Old English words grei meaning gre

  • poodle

    Etymology The word poodle is derived from the German word pudel which means puddle

  • hunt

    Etymology The word hunt derives from the Proto Indo European root kwen meaning to d

  • brach

    Etymology The word brach comes from the Old French word brachet which in turn comes

  • redbone

    Etymology Redbone is a compound word originating from two English words Red Referrin

  • scent

  • leash

    Etymology The word leash comes from the Middle English word lesshe which is derived

  • ferret

    Etymology The word ferret comes from the Middle French word furet meaning little t

  • rebound

    Etymology The word rebound originates from the Old French verb rebondir meaning to

  • bounder

    Etymology From Middle English boundour bondour from Anglo Norman bundur bonder ulti