back

back · adjective, adverb, noun, verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European*bʰeg-der.?
2. Proto-Germanic*baką
3. Proto-West Germanic*bak
4. Old Englishbæc
5. Middle Englishbak
6. English todayback

From Middle English bak, from Old English bæc, from Proto-West Germanic *bak, from Proto-Germanic *baką, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeg- (“to bend”). The adverb represents an aphetic form of aback. Compare Middle Low German bak (“back”), from Old Saxon bak, and West Frisian bekling (“chair back”), Old High German bah, Swedish and Norwegian bak. Cognate with German Bache (“sow [adult female hog]”).

back · noun²

1. French · borrowed frombac
2. French · borrowed frombac
3. English todayback

Borrowed from French bac.

Words from the same roots