- Netherlands
- from Du. Nederland, lit. "lower land" (see nether); said originally to have been used by the Austrians (who ruled much of the southern part of the Low Countries from 1713 to 1795), out of contrast to the mountains they knew. The Netherlands formerly included Flanders and thus were equivalent geographically and etymologically to the Low Countries.
- nether
- O.E. nişera, neoşera "down, downwards, below, beneath," from P.Gmc. *nitheraz (cf. O.S. nithar, O.N. niğr, O.Fris. nither, Du. neder, Ger. nieder), comp. of PIE *ni- "down, below" (cf. Skt. ni "down," nitaram "downward," Gk. neiothen "from below," O.C.S. nizu "low, down"). Has been replaced in most senses by lower.
- beneath
- O.E. be "by" + neoğan "below," originally "from below," from P.Gmc. *nişar "lower, farther down, down" (see nether). Meaning "unworthy of" is attested from 1849 (purists prefer below in this sense).
- nitre
- c.1400, "potassium nitrate, saltpetre," from O.Fr. nitre (13c.), from L. nitrum, from Gk. nitron, which is possibly of Eastern origin (cf. Heb. nether; Egyptian ntr).
- Stygian
- "pertaining to Styx or the nether world," 1560s, from L. Stygius, from Gk. Stygios, from Styx (gen. Stygos); see Styx.
- hell
- O.E. hel, helle, "nether world, abode of the dead, infernal regions," from P.Gmc. *haljo "the underworld" (cf. O.Fris. helle, Du. hel, O.N. hel, Ger. Hölle, Goth. halja "hell") "the underworld," lit. "concealed place" (cf. O.N. hellir "cave, cavern"), from PIE *kel- "to cover, conceal, save" (see cell).
The English word may be in part from O.N. Hel (from P.Gmc. *halija "one who covers up or hides something"), in Norse mythology the name of Loki's daughter, who rules over the evil dead in Niflheim, the lowest of all worlds (nifl "mist"). Transfer of a pagan concept and word to a Christian idiom. In M.E., also of the Limbus Patrum, place where the Patriarchs, Prophets, etc. awaited the Atonement. Used in the KJV for O.T. Heb. Sheol and N.T. Gk. Hades, Gehenna. Used figuratively for "state of misery, any bad experience" since at least late 14c. As an expression of disgust, etc., first recorded 1670s.
Expression Hell in a handbasket is c.1941, perhaps a revision of earlier heaven in a handbasket (c.1913), with a sense of "easy passage" to whichever destination. Hell or high water is apparently a variation of between the devil and the deep blue sea. To wish someone would go to hell is in Shakespeare ("Merchant of Venice"). Snowball's chance in hell "no chance" is from 1931; till hell freezes over "never" is from 1919. To ride hell for leather is from 1889, originally with reference to riding on horseback. Hell on wheels is from 1843.