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

Definitions

  1. if; whether; or

Ancestry of “off”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanoftoften
2Middle High Germanofte—
3Old High Germanofta—
4Proto-Germanicuftaoft; often; frequently
Every word from Proto-Germanic ufta →Every word from Old High German ofta →Every word from Middle High German ofte →