Where does “nietsdoen” come from?

nietsdoen (Dutch) comes from Dutch niets, from Dutch iets, from Middle Dutch iet, from Middle Dutch iewet, from Old Dutch iowiht, from Old Dutch io, from Proto-West Germanic aiw, from Proto-Germanic aiwaz — vital force, life, age, eternity; day, morning.

nietsdoen (Dutch): idleness, faineance

Definitions

  1. idleness, faineance

Ancestry of “nietsdoen”, step by step

nietsdoen traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Dutch niets

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchnietsnothing
2Dutchietssomething; anything; somewhat
3Middle Dutchietsomething, anything; to any degree, in any way,...
4Middle DutchiewetAlternative form of iet
5Old Dutchiowiht
6Old Dutchioalways, every time, continuously; ever, at some...
7Proto-West Germanicaiwlong time, age, eternity; law
8Proto-Germanicaiwazlong time, age, eternity
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eyu-vitality; eternal; vital force, life, long life,...
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ey-vital force, life, age, eternity; day, morning

via Dutch doen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchdoento do; to put; to cause to, to make
2Middle Dutchdoento do; to cause; to put, to place
3Old Dutchduonto do; to put, to place
4Proto-Germanicdōnąto do, make; to put, place
5Proto-Indo-Europeandʰéh₁tto put, to place; to do
6Proto-Indo-Europeandʰeh₁-to do, put, place
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂ey-Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eyu-Every word from Proto-Germanic aiwaz