Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “dope fiend” come from?

dope fiend (English) comes from English dope, from Dutch doop, from Dutch dopen, from Middle Dutch dôpen, from Old Dutch dōpen, from Frankish daupijan, from Proto-Germanic daupijaną, from Proto-Indo-European dʰewb- — deep, hollow; depths, hollow, deep, bottom.

dope fiend (English): A person who abuses drugs

Definitions

  1. A person who abuses drugs

Ancestry of “dope fiend”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdopeAny viscous liquid or paste, such as a lubricant,...
2Dutchdoopbaptism; christening; hazing
3Dutchdopento dip, to immerse; to baptize, to christen; to...
4Middle Dutchdôpen—
5Old Dutchdōpen—
6Frankishdaupijanto dip, to immerse
7Proto-Germanicdaupijanąto dip , to immerse
8Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewb-deep, hollow; depths, hollow, deep, bottom
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰewb- →