Where does “ass-backwards” come from?
ass-backwards (English) comes from English backwards, from English -s, from English ’s, from English Kingstown, from English town, from Middle English toun, from Middle English ende, from Old English ende — on, onto.
ass-backwards (English): Oriented backwards, particularly after a mishap;...
Definitions
- Oriented backwards, particularly after a mishap;...
Ancestry of “ass-backwards”, step by step
ass-backwards traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English backwards
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | backwards | Oriented toward the back; Reversed; Behind... |
| 2 | English | -s | Used to form regular plurals of nouns; Used to... |
| 3 | English | ’s | — |
| 4 | English | Kingstown | OS grid ref NY3959 |
| 5 | English | town | A settlement; an area with residential districts,... |
| 6 | Middle English | toun | town |
| 7 | Middle English | ende | The end or finishing of a thing; the terminal... |
| 8 | Old English | ende | end, limit, border, corner |
| 9 | Proto-Germanic | andi | in addition, furthermore, and |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂énti | opposite; near; in front |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂énts | forehead; front |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ent- | face; forehead; front |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂en- | on, onto |
via English ass
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ass | Any of several species of horse-like animals,... |
| 2 | Middle English | asse | Alternative form of axen |
| 3 | Old English | assa | ass, donkey |
| 4 | Old English | assen | she-ass |
| 5 | Latin | asinus | a donkey, an ass; an ass, an idiot, a dolt, a... |
| 6 | Latin | acinus | a berry, especially the grape; the seed of a... |
| 7 | Latin | acies | sharp edge or point; battle line; battle,... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eḱ- | sharp |