from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

  • n. A diacritical mark: 〈ˇ〉, usually resembling an inverted circumflex, but in the cases of ď, Ľ, ľ, and ť, taking instead a form similar to a prime: 〈′〉.


First attested in 1951; from the Czech háček ("háček", literally "little hook"), the diminutive form of hák (“hook”, from the Middle High German hāken, from the Old High German hāko, “hook”, from the Proto-Germanic *hakô, “hook”, from the Proto-Indo-European *keg-, *keng-, “peg”, “hook”) + the diminutive suffix -ek; parallel to the formation of the English hooklet and the German Häkchen; cognate with the German Haken ("hook"), the Old English haca ("hook”, “door-fastening"), and the Modern English hook and hake (more information sub verbis). (Wiktionary)


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  • From Czech ("little hook"), the upside down circumflex, or caron, over certain letters, such as š, č, ř, ž, and ě in Czech.

    In Slovene, this is called strešica ("little roof").

    In English, this is sometimes written, illogically, haček (I mean, if you're going to use one diacritic, why not use them both?)

    June 5, 2011