Etymograph

English

high king

High king comes from Old English hēahcyning ‘high-king’.

  1. Old Englishc. 450–1150hēahcyning‘high-king’
  2. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500*heah-kyngreconstructed
  3. Englishearliest quotation 1950high king

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Old Englishc. 450–1150hēahcyning‘high-king’
  2. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500*heah-kyngreconstructed
  3. Englishearliest quotation 1950high king

Earliest quotation: 1950, The Journal of Celtic studies - Volume 1: “[…] is eighth in descent from Aedh Slaine, Highking…”

A compound of high + king

Proto-Indo-European *kewk- ‘to bend’

Proto-Germanic *hauhaz

Proto-West Germanic *hauh

Old English hēah ‘high’

Middle English high

English high

Proto-Indo-European *ǵenh₁- ‘to produce’

…

Proto-Germanic *kuningaz

Proto-West Germanic *kuning

Old English cening

Middle English king ‘king’

English king

Every English word from Old English hēahcyning

Today it means

noun A chief king or ruler; a great, superior, or supreme king; a king of kings.

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

Etymograph / Old English hēahcyning / high king

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