Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “dotard” come from?

dotard (English) comes from Middle English dotard, from Middle English -ard, from Old French -ard, from Frankish -hard, from Proto-Germanic harduz, from Proto-Indo-European kert-, from Proto-Turkic *keŕ-.

dotard (English): An old person with impaired intellect; one in his...

Definitions

  1. An old person with impaired intellect; one in his...

Ancestry of “dotard”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishdotardA dotard; someone who displays senility; A fool...
2Middle English-ard—
3Old French-ardpejorative agent noun
4Frankish-hardhardy, bold
5Proto-Germanicharduzhard; brave
6Proto-Indo-Europeankert-times; to weave, twist together; time
7Proto-Turkic*keŕ-—

Words derived from “dotard”

  • dotardly
Every word from Proto-Turkic *keŕ- →