Where does “cuss” come from?

Cuss is a variant of curse, which derives from Middle English curse and Old English cors, though the original meaning is uncertain.

cuss (English): To use cursing, to use bad language, to speak...

Definitions

  1. To use cursing, to use bad language, to speak...

Ancestry of “cuss”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcurseA supernatural detriment or hindrance; a bane; A...
2Middle Englishcurse
3Old Englishcorscurse

Words derived from “cuss

Every word from Old English corsEvery word from Middle English curseEvery word from English curse