Where does “bit” come from?
Bit derives from binary digit, shortened in English computing terminology, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰeyd- meaning to split or divide.
bit (English): A piece of metal placed in a horse's mouth and...
Definitions
- A piece of metal placed in a horse's mouth and...
Ancestry of “bit”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | bitte | A flexible container for water or wine; a waterskin or wineskin |
| 2 | Old English | byt | bottle, flagon |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | *buttjā | — |
| 4 | Latin | buttia | cask, barrel |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | βούττιον | — |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | -ῐον | diminutive suffix; "suffix forming... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -yós | Creates adjectives from noun or verb stems |