Where does “birdwatching” come from?
birdwatching (English) comes from English watching, from English watch, from English puppy, from English puppie, from Middle French poupée, from Old French poupée, from Latin pupa, from Latin pupus — few, little; smallness.
birdwatching (English): Observing or identifying wild birds in their...
Definitions
- Observing or identifying wild birds in their...
Ancestry of “birdwatching”, step by step
birdwatching traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English watching
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | watching | present participle of watch; The act of one who... |
| 2 | English | watch | A portable or wearable timepiece; The act of... |
| 3 | English | puppy | A young dog, especially before sexual maturity; A... |
| 4 | English | puppie | Obsolete form of puppy |
| 5 | Middle French | poupée | doll, toy |
| 6 | Old French | poupée | — |
| 7 | Latin | pupa | girl, little girl; doll, puppet; pupa |
| 8 | Latin | pupus | a boy, a child; a puppet; the pupil of the eye |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | peh₂w- | few, little; smallness |