Height
/haɪt/noun
The measurement of how tall someone or something is; the distance from base to top.
Did you know?Height comes from the same ancient root as words for being exalted and made high, so its history is literally about rising above the ordinary.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*k̑eik-
“to rise, be high”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*hauhijaz
“high, tall”
Old English
English
hēah
“high, tall, lofty”
Old English
English
hēhþu / hēhthu
“height, elevation”
Middle English
English
heighte
“height, altitude”
Modern English
English
height
“the extent of distance upward; tallness”