Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₁eyH-
Proto-Indo-European *h₁eyH-so-der.
Proto-Germanic *īsą
Proto-West Germanic *īs
Old English īs
Middle English is
English ice
Ancient Greek πῠ́ξος (pŭ́xos)
Ancient Greek -ῐς (-ĭs)
Ancient Greek πυξίς (puxís)bor.
Late Latin buxisbor.
Proto-West Germanic *buhsā
Old English box
Middle English box
English box
English icebox
From ice + box.
Meanings
(not-comparable, slang) agreeable, awesome. (as a superlative of cool)
MIKE: Yeah, yeah, so. So we'll forget about the rent, we'll pay you another time, is that cool?
BALOWSKI: Yes, that's absolutely icebox! See you later, Ford Anglia! 1982, Alexei Sayle, The Young Ones:
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₁eyH-
Proto-Indo-European *h₁eyH-so-der.
Proto-Germanic *īsą
Proto-West Germanic *īs
Old English īs
Middle English is
English ice
Ancient Greek πῠ́ξος (pŭ́xos)
Ancient Greek -ῐς (-ĭs)
Ancient Greek πυξίς (puxís)bor.
Late Latin buxisbor.
Proto-West Germanic *buhsā
Old English box
Middle English box
English box
English icebox
From ice + box.
Meanings
A box or compartment containing ice, typically used to keep provisions cool.
(UK) A compartment in a refrigerator that is colder than the rest of the refrigerator and is used as a freezer.
(US, dated) A refrigerator.
(US, slang) A city with a cold or snowy climate.
I moved here from the icebox of the upper Midwest.
(US, slang) A prison.
The sister ran after them and brought them back and had Owen heaved into the icebox. 1939, Raymond Chandler, The Big Sleep, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, page 47:
ru ле́дник (box or compartment containing ice) · fr congélateur (compartment of a refrigerator used as a freezer) · it ghiacciaia (box or compartment containing ice) · az buzluq (box or compartment containing ice) · mh aij bo̧o̧k (box or compartment containing ice) · mi pākatio (compartment of a refrigerator used as a freezer) · fi pakastelokero (compartment of a refrigerator used as a freezer) · el χύξη (compartment of a refrigerator used as a freezer) · ja クーラーボックス (box or compartment containing ice) · mh bo̧o̧k aij (box or compartment containing ice) · de Eisschrank (box or compartment containing ice) · pl lodówka (box or compartment containing ice) · it congelatore (compartment of a refrigerator used as a freezer) · ko 아이스박스 (box or compartment containing ice) · ru холоди́льник (box or compartment containing ice) · tl nebera (box or compartment containing ice) · ja アイスボックス (box or compartment containing ice) · mh aij bo̧o̧k (compartment of a refrigerator used as a freezer) · pdt Iessschaup (box or compartment containing ice) · fi jäälaatikko (box or compartment containing ice) · fr glacière (box or compartment containing ice) · es nevera (box or compartment containing ice) · tr buzluk (box or compartment containing ice) · es hielera (box or compartment containing ice) · unm kuni puhwexòkw (box or compartment containing ice) · fi jäälokero (box or compartment containing ice) · uk льодо́вник (box or compartment containing ice) · fr compartiment à glaçons (compartment of a refrigerator used as a freezer) · ru морози́лка (compartment of a refrigerator used as a freezer) · be лядні́к (box or compartment containing ice) · it freezer (compartment of a refrigerator used as a freezer) · tr buzluk (compartment of a refrigerator used as a freezer) · az buzxana (box or compartment containing ice) · cmn 冷藏箱 (box or compartment containing ice) · pl zamrażarka (compartment of a refrigerator used as a freezer) · ja 冷蔵箱 (box or compartment containing ice) · cmn 冰箱 (box or compartment containing ice) · sv frysfack (compartment of a refrigerator used as a freezer)