Where does “baitfish” come from?
baitfish (English) comes from English Fish, from Old English fiscian, from Proto-West Germanic fiskōn, from Proto-Germanic fiskōną, from Proto-Germanic -ōną, from Proto-Indo-European -eh₂yéti, from Proto-Indo-European -yéti, from Proto-Indo-European yé- — he, she.
baitfish (English): Small fish such as minnows that are used as bait...
Definitions
- Small fish such as minnows that are used as bait...
Ancestry of “baitfish”, step by step
baitfish traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Fish
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Fish | The constellation and zodiacal sign Pisces |
| 2 | Old English | fiscian | to fish |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | fiskōn | to fish, to catch fish |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | fiskōną | to fish, to catch fish |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | -ōną | Creates denominative verbs from nouns; Creates... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | -eh₂yéti | Creates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -yéti | Creates intransitive, often deponent,... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | yé- | — |
| 9 | Chichewa | iye | he, she |
via English bait
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | bait | Any substance, especially food, used in catching... |
| 2 | Middle English | bayte | Bait or lure; objects used as a bait or lure;... |
| 3 | Old Norse | beita | to graze; to allow, let, make bite; to steer or... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | baitō | That which is or can be bitten; food; bait |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeyd- | to split |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰey- | bee |