Where does “double-jointed” come from?
double-jointed (English) comes from English jointed, from English joint, from Middle English upon, from Middle English up-, from Old English ūp-, from Old English ūp, from Proto-Germanic upp, from Proto-Germanic ub.
double-jointed (English): Having one or more joints (usually those of the fingers, arms, or legs) able to bend more than is normal; possessing hypermobility of one or more joints
Definitions
- Having one or more joints (usually those of the fingers, arms, or legs) able to bend more than is normal; possessing hypermobility of one or more joints
Ancestry of “double-jointed”, step by step
double-jointed traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English jointed
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | jointed | Having joints; Extremely full of people, packed,... |
| 2 | English | joint | Done by two or more people or organisations... |
| 3 | Middle English | upon | upon |
| 4 | Middle English | up- | — |
| 5 | Old English | ūp- | up- |
| 6 | Old English | ūp | up, from above |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | upp | up, upwards |
| 8 | Proto-Germanic | ub | under |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | upó | under, below |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃ewp- | — |