Where does “Child” come from?
Child comes from Middle English childe, Old English -en, Proto-Indo-European gelt-, gel-, and en, though the original meaning is uncertain.
Child (English): A person who has not yet reached adulthood,...
Definitions
- A person who has not yet reached adulthood,...
Ancestry of “Child”, step by step
Child traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English childe
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | childe | A child of noble birth; The cognomen given to the... |
| 2 | Old English | ċild | child, youth; fetus; female baby; child |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | kelþaz | fetus; newborn; infant; child |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵelt- | womb |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵel- | to swallow; swallow |
via Middle English child
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | child | A baby, infant, toddler; a person in infancy; A... |