English
hammock
Hammock comes from Spanish hamaca, and goes back to Proto-Arawak *maka.
- Proto-Arawakprehistoric (reconstructed)*makareconstructed
- Taínomodern*hamakareconstructed
- Spanishc. 1500–presenthamaca
- Englishearliest quotation 1638hammock
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Arawakprehistoric (reconstructed)*makareconstructed
- Taínomodern*hamakareconstructed
- Spanishc. 1500–presenthamaca
- Englishearliest quotation 1638hammock
Earliest quotation: 1638, Thomas Herbert: “[…] the poore ſaylers, who […] commonly get forthwith…”
Every English word from Proto-Arawak *maka
Today it means
noun A swinging couch or bed, usually made of netting or canvas about six feet (1.8 meters) wide, suspended by clews or cords at the ends.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Arawak *maka / hammock