Neck
/nɛk/noun
The part of the body connecting the head to the trunk, or a narrow connecting part of something.
Did you know?English neck is tied to an ancient Indo-European root for bending/curving, the same deep source behind words like knee and knuckle, all shaped by the idea of a joint or bend.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gónu-
“knee, bent joint”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*hnekkaz
“neck, nape”
Old English
English
hnecca
“neck, nape of the neck”
Middle English
English
nekke
“neck”
Modern English
English
neck
“the part of the body connecting the head to the trunk”