Etymology Map
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Head

3 stages from Proto-Germanic to English.

Today it means the upper part of the body containing the brain

Where does the word "head" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic haubudą, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
haubudą
Proto-Germanic · ancient
"head"
often linked to Latin 'caput', as in 'capital'
2
Stage 2 of 3
hēafod
Old English · 700s-1000s
"head"
lost its middle consonant to become 'hed' by the 1200s
3
Stage 3 of 3
head
English · 1500s
"head"
the 'ea' spelling keeps a trace of the older two-syllable form
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Read the full story

Head’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: haubudą meant “head.” Often linked to Latin 'caput', as in 'capital'. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as hēafod. Lost its middle consonant to become 'hed' by the 1200s. It reached English by 1500s as head. The 'ea' spelling keeps a trace of the older two-syllable form. Today, head means the upper part of the body containing the brain.