Etymology Map
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Hut

3 stages from Middle High German to English.

Today it means a small simple shelter

Where does the word "hut" come from? It comes from Middle High German hutta, passing through French before entering English (1650s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
hutta
Middle High German · medieval
"hut"
a Germanic word, related to 'hide', a shelter
2
Stage 2 of 3
hutte
French · 1500s
"hut"
came from German 'Hütte'
3
Stage 3 of 3
hut
English · 1650s
"hut"
military 'huts' spread in World War I
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Read the full story

Hut’s story begins in Middle High German: hutta meant “hut.” A Germanic word, related to 'hide', a shelter. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as hutte. Came from German 'Hütte'. It reached English by 1650s as hut. Military 'huts' spread in World War I. Today, hut means a small simple shelter.