crochet (English)
Where does "crochet" come from?
The word "crochet" traces its origins back to the Proto-Indo-European root *gerg-, which referred to twisting or weaving. It evolved through Proto-Germanic as *krōkaz into Old French as a diminutive of "croc," meaning a hooked instrument. This Old French term for a "little hook" eventually entered English, giving us the name for the needlework technique performed with a hooked needle.
Full etymology tree
- crochet (English), 'A form of needlework that is made by looping thread with a hooked needle.'
- inherited crochet (French), 'hook (rod bent into a curved shape)'
- derived croc (French), 'hook'
- inherited crochet (Middle French)
- inherited croc (Old French), 'hook'
- borrowed *krōk (Frankish)
- inherited *krōkaz (Proto-Germanic), 'something bent, a hook'
- inherited *greh₂ǵos (Proto-Indo-European)
- derived *ger- (Proto-Indo-European)
- inherited *greh₂ǵos (Proto-Indo-European)
- inherited *krōkaz (Proto-Germanic), 'something bent, a hook'
- borrowed krókr (Old Norse), 'hook'
- inherited *krōkaz (Proto-Germanic), 'something bent, a hook'
- inherited *greh₂ǵos (Proto-Indo-European)
- derived *ger- (Proto-Indo-European)
- inherited *greh₂ǵos (Proto-Indo-European)
- inherited *krōkaz (Proto-Germanic), 'something bent, a hook'
- borrowed *krōk (Frankish)
- inherited croc (Old French), 'hook'
- inherited crochet (Middle French)
- affix -et (French), 'suffix indicating diminution or affection'
- derived croc (French), 'hook'
- inherited crochet (French), 'hook (rod bent into a curved shape)'
Direct ancestors
- crochet (French)
- croc (Old French)
- krókr (Old Norse)
- krōkaz (Proto-Germanic)
- crocket (English)
- croquet (English)
- crotchet (English)
Updated July 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris