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
- In a state between dry and wet; moderately wet;...
Ancestry of “damp”, step by step
damp traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English dampen
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | dampen | to extinguish, choke, suffocate; to stifle;... |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | dampaz | vapor; damp, humid |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | dimbaną | to fog, smoke |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰembʰ- | to be stunned |
via German damp
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | damp | — |