Where does “crackpot” come from?

crackpot (English) comes from English pot, from Middle English pot, from Old French pot, from Vulgar Latin pottum, from Frankish *pott, from Proto-Germanic puttaz, from Proto-Indo-European budn- — a kind of vessel; type of vessel; a type of...

crackpot (English): An eccentric, crazy or foolish person. A "kook";...

Definitions

  1. An eccentric, crazy or foolish person. A "kook";...

Ancestry of “crackpot”, step by step

crackpot traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English pot

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpotA flat-bottomed vessel used for cooking food;...
2Middle EnglishpotA pot; a circular receptacle or vessel; The top...
3Old Frenchpotpot; third-person singular present indicative of...
4Vulgar Latinpottum—
5Frankish*pott—
6Proto-Germanicputtazpot, jar, tub
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbudn-a kind of vessel; type of vessel; a type of...

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 “crackpot”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European budn- →Every word from Proto-Germanic puttaz →Every word from Frankish *pott →