Etymology Explorer › Dutch

Where does “kattenmoeder” come from?

kattenmoeder (Dutch) comes from Dutch kat, from Middle Dutch catte, from Old Dutch katta, from Proto-Celtic kattā, from Proto-Germanic *kattǭ, from Latin catta, from Latin cattus — a cat.

kattenmoeder (Dutch): a mother who neglects or mistreats her children;...

Definitions

  1. a mother who neglects or mistreats her children;...

Ancestry of “kattenmoeder”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchkatcat, pussy, "Felis silvestris catus"; female cat;...
2Middle Dutchcattecat
3Old Dutchkatta—
4Proto-Celtickattācat
5Proto-Germanic*kattǭ—
6Latincattaa cat
7Latincattusa cat
Every word from Latin cattus →