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

kattenmoeder traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Dutch kat

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchkatcat, pussy, "Felis silvestris catus"; female cat;...
2Middle Dutchcattecat
3Old Dutchkattacat
4Proto-Celtickattācat
5Proto-Germanic*kattǭfemale cat
6Latincattaa cat
7Latincattusa cat

via Dutch moeder

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchmoedermother, female parent; womb
2Dutchbordplate, dish; sign; board
3Middle Dutchbort—
4Old Dutchbortboard, plank
5Proto-West Germanicbordboard, plank
6Proto-Germanicburdąboard, plank; table
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰers-top, tip, point
Every word from Latin cattus →