Where does “crackbrained” come from?

crackbrained (English) comes from English brained, from English brain, from Middle English brayn, from Old English bræġn, from Proto-West Germanic *bragn, from Proto-Germanic bragną, from Proto-Indo-European mregʰnom, from Proto-Indo-European men- — to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...

crackbrained (English): Idiotic

Definitions

  1. Idiotic

Ancestry of “crackbrained”, step by step

crackbrained traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English brained

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbrainedHaving a particular kind or number of brain;...
2EnglishbrainThe control center of the central nervous system...
3Middle EnglishbraynThe brain or cerebrum; the organ of thought;...
4Old Englishbræġnbrain
5Proto-West Germanic*bragnbrain
6Proto-Germanicbragnąbrain
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmregʰnomskull, brain
8Proto-Indo-Europeanmen-to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...

via English crack

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcrackTo form cracks; To break apart under pressure; To...
2Middle Englishcrakloud conversation, bragging talk
3Old Norsekrákacrow
4Proto-Germanic*krakǭ
5Proto-Germanickrakōnąto crack; crackle; shriek
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵerh₂-to grow old, to mature

Words derived from “crackbrained

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