Where does “anting” come from?

anting (English) comes from English ȧnt, from Middle English ampte, from Old English ǣmete, from Proto-West Germanic āmaitijā, from Proto-West Germanic uʀ-, from Proto-Germanic uz-, from Proto-Indo-European uss-, from Proto-Indo-European uds- — out, outward.

anting (English): The practice of some birds of rubbing live ants...

Definitions

  1. The practice of some birds of rubbing live ants...

Ancestry of “anting”, step by step

anting traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English ȧnt

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishȧnt
2Middle EnglishampteAn ant; a formicid; A mantid
3Old Englishǣmete
4Proto-West Germanicāmaitijāant
5Proto-West Germanicuʀ-out, over; off, away
6Proto-Germanicuz-up, out
7Proto-Indo-Europeanuss-
8Proto-Indo-Europeanuds-up, out
9Proto-Indo-Europeanúdout, outward

via English ing

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishingA meadow, especially a low meadow near a river;...
2Middle Englishing
3Old Englishingmeadow, water meadow, ing
4Old Norseengmeadow
5Proto-GermanicangijōA low lying meadow in a valley or near a river
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂énkoscurve, bend
7Proto-Indo-European-osCreates action nouns or result nouns from verbs;...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European údEvery word from Proto-Indo-European uds-Every word from Proto-Indo-European uss-
anting — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer