Where does “MacGuffin” come from?

MacGuffin (English) comes from Irish Fionn, from Old Irish find, from Proto-Celtic Kʷennowindos, from Proto-Celtic windos, from Proto-Indo-European windo-, from Proto-Indo-European weyd- — to see.

MacGuffin (English): A plot element or other device used to catch the...

Definitions

  1. A plot element or other device used to catch the...

Ancestry of “MacGuffin”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1IrishFionnfair (of hair or complexion)
2Old Irishfindwhite
3Proto-CelticKʷennowindoswhite-headed, white-faced
4Proto-Celticwindoswhite
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwindo-—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanweyd-to see
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weyd- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European windo- →Every word from Proto-Celtic windos →