Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “begger” come from?

begger (English) comes from English beg, from Middle English beggen, from Old English becgan, from Old English bedecian, from Old English bedu, from Proto-Celtic betuyā, from Proto-Indo-European gʷetu-yo-s, from Proto-Indo-European gʷet- — to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

begger (English): Obsolete form of beggar

Definitions

  1. Obsolete form of beggar

Ancestry of “begger”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbegTo request the help of someone, often in the form...
2Middle Englishbeggento beg
3Old Englishbecgan—
4Old Englishbedecianto beg
5Old Englishbedurequest; prayer; supplication; religious worship
6Proto-Celticbetuyābirch
7Proto-Indo-Europeangʷetu-yo-s—
8Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
9Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →