Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “dapperling” come from?

dapperling (English) comes from English dapper, from Middle English daper, from Middle Dutch dapper, from Old Dutch dappar, from Proto-Germanic dapraz, from Proto-Indo-European dʰeb- — thick, fat, heavy; fat, heavy, thick.

dapperling (English): A dwarf; a dandiprat; a dapper little fellow

Definitions

  1. A dwarf; a dandiprat; a dapper little fellow

Ancestry of “dapperling”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdapperNeat, trim; Stylishly dressed, neatly dressed,...
2Middle Englishdaperpretty, neat
3Middle Dutchdapperstalwart, nimble
4Old Dutchdappar—
5Proto-Germanicdaprazstout; solid; heavy; bold
6Proto-Indo-Europeandʰeb-thick, fat, heavy; fat, heavy, thick
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰeb- →