burrow (English)

Where does "burrow" come from?

The English word 'burrow' shares a complex lineage with terms for fortified dwellings and high places. It descends from Middle English forms like 'borowe', which were variants of the Middle English 'burgh' meaning 'fortified dwelling' or 'stronghold'[1]. This traces back to Old English 'burh' and the Proto-West Germanic '*burg'[3], ultimately stemming from the Proto-Germanic '*burgz'[1]. Etymologists suggest the word may originate from the Proto-Indo-European root '*bʰerǵʰ-' meaning 'high'[1][4], or alternatively from '*bʰergʰ-' meaning 'to protect' or 'to preserve'[1]. While 'burrow' now refers to a tunnel or lair, this specific sense was not present in Old English, leading to theories that it might be connected to the verb 'bury' and the protective sense of the Indo-European root[1].

Open questions

The connection between the sense of a lair for an animal and the original meaning of a fortified dwelling is not found in Old English. [1]
It is debated whether the Proto-Germanic term '*burgz' derives from an Indo-European root meaning high or a root meaning to protect. [1] [2]
The possible relationship between burrow and the verb bury remains a suggested but unconfirmed hypothesis. [1]

Full etymology tree

burrow (English), 'A tunnel or hole, often as dug by a small creature.'
- inherited burgh (Middle English)
  - inherited burh (Old English), 'alternative form of burg'
    - inherited *burg (Proto-West Germanic), 'fortification'
      - inherited *burgz (Proto-Germanic), 'fortification, stronghold'
        inherited *bʰérǵʰs (Proto-Indo-European), 'something high up, fortified'
        compound *bʰerǵʰ- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to rise up, ascend'
        compound *-s (Proto-Indo-European), 'Derives feminine mobile-accented root nouns from roots.'
        inherited *bʰergʰ- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to safeguard, to protect'
- influence bury (English), 'To ritualistically inter in a grave or tomb.'

Ancestors

*bʰerǵʰ- (Proto-Indo-European)
*bʰergʰ- (Proto-Indo-European)
burh (Old English)
*burg (Proto-West Germanic)
*burgz (Proto-Germanic)

Descendants and derived words

bargander (English)
burrow duck (English)
burrowless (English)
burrowlike (English)
burrow owl (English)
paleoburrow (English)

Sources

Updated August 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris