Where does “bickering” come from?
Bickering comes from Middle English biker, from Old Norse bikarr and Old Saxon bikeri, ultimately referring to a container or vessel.
bickering (English): Petty quarreling. Usually considered a childish...
Definitions
- Petty quarreling. Usually considered a childish...
Ancestry of “bickering”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | bicker | To quarrel in a tiresome, insulting manner; To... |
| 2 | Scots | bicker | — |
| 3 | Middle English | biker | — |
| 4 | Old Norse | bikarr | cup; large cup, beaker |
| 5 | Old Saxon | bikeri | cup |
| 6 | Latin | bīcārium | drinking glass |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | βῖκος | vase with handles, amphora; land measure of... |
| 8 | Latin | vīcus | row of houses; street; quarter; neighbourhood |
| 9 | Proto-Italic | weikos | village |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | weyḱ- | to enter in; to settle; settlement |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | wey- | to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;... |