craig (English)
Where does "craig" come from?
The word 'craig' functions as a variant of the noun 'crag'[1]. This term appeared in Middle English during the 13th century as 'crag'[2]. It traces its roots back to the Middle Irish form 'crec', which itself evolved as a contraction of 'carrac'[2]. Ultimately, linguists suspect the word may be derived from an ancient source, possibly linked to the reconstructed Proto-Indo-European or substrate root '*kar' meaning 'stone' or 'hard'[2].
Open questions
- The derivation from the reconstructed root '*kar' remains a hypothesis based on substrate evidence. [2]
Full etymology tree
- craig (English), 'A rocky crag.'
- derived crag (English), 'A rocky outcrop; a rugged steep cliff or rock.'
- inherited crag (Middle English), 'cliff'
- borrowed crec (Middle Irish)
- derived carrac (Middle Irish), 'rock'
- inherited *kar (Proto-Indo-European/substrate)
- derived carrac (Middle Irish), 'rock'
- borrowed crec (Middle Irish)
- inherited crag (Middle English), 'cliff'
- derived crag (English), 'A rocky outcrop; a rugged steep cliff or rock.'
Descendants and derived words
- craig flounder (English)
Sources
Updated August 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris