Where does “crapshoot” come from?

crapshoot (English) comes from English shoot, from Middle English shoten, from Old English sċēotan, from Proto-West Germanic skeutan, from Proto-Germanic skeutaną, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kewd- — to advance, push; to drive, propel.

crapshoot (English): A game of craps; A venture with a highly risky or...

Definitions

  1. A game of craps; A venture with a highly risky or...

Ancestry of “crapshoot”, step by step

crapshoot traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English shoot

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishshootTo launch a projectile; To move or act quickly or...
2Middle Englishshoten—
3Old Englishsċēotanto shoot
4Proto-West Germanicskeutanto shoot
5Proto-Germanicskeutanąto shoot
6Proto-Indo-European(s)kewd-to advance, push; to drive, propel

via English crap

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcrapThe husk of grain; chaff; Something worthless or...
2Middle Englishcrappechaff, grain husks
3Old Frenchcrappe—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)kewd- →Every word from Proto-Germanic skeutaną →Every word from Proto-West Germanic skeutan →
crapshoot — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer