Etymograph

English

Hehir

Hehir comes from Irish Ó hAichir ‘descendant of Aichear’, from aichear ‘keen, sharp’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ-.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱ-‘sharp’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱrós‘sharp’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*akrisreconstructed
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEācer‘sharp, sour, bitter, pungent’
  5. Old Irishc. 600–900aicher‘sharp, fierce, (of the wind) bitter’
  6. Irishc. 1200–presentaichear‘keen, sharp’
  7. Irish, derivedc. 1200–presentÓ hAichir‘descendant of Aichear’
  8. EnglishtodayHehir

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱ-‘sharp’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂eḱrós‘sharp’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*akrisreconstructed
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEācer‘sharp, sour, bitter, pungent’
  5. Old Irishc. 600–900aicher‘sharp, fierce, (of the wind) bitter’
  6. Irishc. 1200–presentaichear‘keen, sharp’
  7. Irish, derivedc. 1200–presentÓ hAichir‘descendant of Aichear’
  8. EnglishtodayHehir

The story

Reduced Anglicized form of Irish Ó hAichir (‘descendant of Aichear’), a byname from aichear (‘keen, sharp’).

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- ‘sharp’

hear, edge, egg, acid, ear, hammer, acute, axe, acne, oxide, acetate, paragon, acupuncture, acacia, acumen, acme, acuity, hark, acyl, rosacea, roselle, 72 more

through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱrós ‘sharp’

mediocre, mediocrity, 13 more

through Proto-Italic *akris

exacerbate, acerbic, exacerbation, 7 more

through Latin ācer ‘sharp, sour, bitter, pungent’

eager, vinegar, acrid, acrimony, 7 more

Today it means

name A surname from Irish.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- / Hehir

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