Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “damp” come from?

Damp comes from Middle English damp, whose origin and original meaning are unknown.

damp (English): In a state between dry and wet; moderately wet;...

Definitions

  1. In a state between dry and wet; moderately wet;...

Ancestry of “damp”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishdampento extinguish, choke, suffocate; to stifle;...
2Proto-Germanicdampazvapor; damp, humid
3Proto-Germanicdimbanąto fog, smoke
4Proto-Indo-Europeandʰembʰ-—

Words derived from “damp”

  • damper
  • dampness
  • dampen
  • damply
  • dampener
  • firedamp
  • dampish
  • afterdamp
  • chokedamp
  • dampproof
  • blackdamp
  • dampy
  • dampishness
  • damperless
  • stinkdamp
  • bedamped
  • whitedamp
  • overdamp
  • dampiness
  • dampable
  • dampsome
  • dampishly
  • dampth
  • bedamp
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰembʰ- →