Neigh
/neɪ/noun
The characteristic cry of a horse.
Did you know?English neigh is an imitative word, but its deep cousins spread through Indo-European languages into forms meaning both “to neigh” and “to whinny,” showing how humans have been copying animal voices since prehistoric times.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*knǝ- / *neigh-
“An imitative sound base used for horse-like calls (reconstructed and uncertain).”
Old English
English
hnǣgan
“To neigh, especially of a horse.”
Middle English
English
neyen / neien
“To make the sound of a horse; to neigh.”
Early Modern English
English
neigh
“The sound made by a horse; to neigh.”
Modern English
English
neigh
“The characteristic cry of a horse.”