Where does “bits” come from?

Bits comes from Old English bita, from Proto-Germanic bitiz, from Proto-Indo-European bʰeyd-, ultimately from the root bʰī- meaning to split or divide.

bits (English): plural of bit; genitals

Definitions

  1. plural of bit; genitals

Ancestry of “bits”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbitA piece of metal placed in a horse's mouth and...
2Middle EnglishbitteA flexible container for water or wine; a waterskin or wineskin
3Old Englishbytbottle, flagon
4Proto-Germanic*buttjā
5Latinbuttiacask, barrel
6Ancient Greekβούττιον
7Ancient Greek-ῐονdiminutive suffix; "suffix forming...
8Proto-Indo-European-yósCreates adjectives from noun or verb stems

Words derived from “bits

Every word from Proto-Indo-European -yós
bits — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer