Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “dough” come from?

Dough comes from Middle English dow, from Old English dāh, from Proto-Germanic daigaz, from Proto-Indo-European dʰeyǵʰ-, meaning to knead or form.

dough (English): A thick, malleable substance made by mixing flour...

Definitions

  1. A thick, malleable substance made by mixing flour...

Ancestry of “dough”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishdowAlternative form of dogh
2Old Englishdāgdough
3Proto-Germanicdaigazsoft; that which is formed or kneaded; dough
4Proto-Indo-European*dʰóyǵʰos—
5Proto-Indo-Europeandʰeyǵʰ-to knead; to form, to shape

Words derived from “dough”

  • doughnut
  • donut
  • doughy
  • duff
  • doughboy
  • dosh
  • playdough
  • doughface
  • duffing
  • doughmaking
  • doughlike
  • doughiness
  • donutlike
  • doughball
  • doughnutlike
  • doughfaceism
  • doughbird
  • doughily
  • figgy duff
  • doughless
  • jelly doughnut
  • doughfacism
  • donutty
  • doughnutty
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰeyǵʰ- →