heien

Meaning

to drive (a pile, plank or wall) into the ground

Concepts

pile

ram

🐏

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɦɛi̯.ə(n)/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle Dutch: heien

Cognate with Latin: caedo

In summary

From Middle Dutch heien, of uncertain ultimate origin; perhaps related to Latin caedo (“I cut”), where the syncope of -d- would have taken place very early. If so, related to Proto-Germanic *hittijaną (“to hit, make contact with”).