Where does “off” come from?
off (Central Franconian) comes from German oft, from Middle High German ofte, from Old High German ofta, from Proto-Germanic ufta — oft; often; frequently.
off (Central Franconian): if; whether; or
Ancestry of “off”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | German | oft | often |
| 2 | Middle High German | ofte | — |
| 3 | Old High German | ofta | — |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | ufta | oft; often; frequently |