Where does “cygnet” come from?
cygnet (English) comes from Middle English cignet, from Anglo-Norman cignet, from Old French cigne, from Latin Cygnus, from Ancient Greek Κύκνος, from Latin olor, from Ancient Greek Τιτάν, from Translingual -therium — wild; wild animal.
cygnet (English): The young of a swan
Ancestry of “cygnet”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | cignet | — |
| 2 | Anglo-Norman | cignet | — |
| 3 | Old French | cigne | swan |
| 4 | Latin | Cygnus | — |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | Κύκνος | — |
| 6 | Latin | olor | swan; A smell |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | Τιτάν | Titan |
| 8 | Translingual | -therium | — |
| 9 | Ancient Greek | θηρίον | wild animal, beast, savage beast; a small animal,... |
| 10 | Ancient Greek | θήρ | a wild beast, beast of prey, especially a lion;... |
| 11 | Proto-Hellenic | kʷʰḗr | wild beast |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰwer- | wild; wild animal |