Hunchback
/ˈhʌntʃbæk/noun
A person with a rounded upper back, especially from spinal curvature.
Did you know?The word is a transparent compound, with no hidden occult root, but its history shows how English often turned visible bodily traits into blunt, permanent labels.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
hūnċ
“a hump or protuberance”
Middle English
ME
hunch
“a lump, hump, or rounded swelling”
Middle English
ME
back
“the rear part of the body, especially the spine area”
Early Modern English
English
hunchback
“a person with a hump on the back”
Modern English
English
hunchback
“a person with a rounded upper back, often from spinal curvature”