Where does “crikey” come from?
crikey (English) comes from English Christ, from Middle English Crist, from Old English Crīst, from Latin Chrīstus, from Ancient Greek Χριστός, from Ancient Greek χρίω, from Proto-Indo-European gʰrēy-, from Proto-Indo-European gʰer- — to rub; to stroke; to grind.
crikey (English): An exclamation of astonishment
Definitions
- An exclamation of astonishment
Ancestry of “crikey”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Christ | A figure or other artistic depiction of Jesus... |
| 2 | Middle English | Crist | (Jesus) Christ |
| 3 | Old English | Crīst | Christ |
| 4 | Latin | Chrīstus | — |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | Χριστός | anointed; messiah; annointed, the annointed one,... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | χρίω | to rub or smear (especially the body) with oil or unguents; to anoint |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | gʰrēy- | to smear; to paint, streak, smear |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | gʰer- | to rub; to stroke; to grind |