hillock
UK[ˈhɪlək]US[ˈhɪlək]
n
a small hill or mound.
Morpheme Breakdown
hill
ock
hill
mound
ock
diminutive suffix
Etymology
the word 'hillock' is a native english formation, combining the old english root for a raised landform with a diminutive suffix. the old english hyll is of germanic origin, related to dutch heuvel and german hügel, all descending from a proto-germanic root. the suffix '-ock', of middle english origin, is a productive diminutive, akin to the '-kin' in 'lambkin'. thus, the literal construction 'small hill' has remained semantically transparent from its middle english origins to its modern usage, precisely describing a minor topographic feature.
Analysis
Structure: hill (mound) + ock (diminutive suffix)
- hill: from old english hyll, meaning a natural elevation of land.
- ock: a diminutive suffix of middle english origin, used to form nouns indicating a small version of something.
Examples
the children rolled down the grassy hillock.
an ancient burial site was discovered beneath the hillock.
from the top of the hillock, we had a clear view of the valley.