Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “draughts” come from?

Draughts derives from Middle English draught, Old English dræht, Proto-Germanic drahtuz and draganą, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European dʰreǵ-, meaning to draw or drag.

draughts (English): plural of draught; A board game for two players...

Definitions

  1. plural of draught; A board game for two players...

Ancestry of “draughts”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdraughtAlternative form of draft "in its various...
2Middle Englishdraughtdrawing, pull, stroke, etc
3Old Englishdreaht—
4Proto-Germanicdrahtuzpulling, carrying
5Proto-Germanicdraganąto draw, to pull, to carry
6Proto-Indo-Europeandʰreǵ-pull, draw, drag; to glide, swoop; to draw, glide

Words derived from “draughts”

  • draughtsboard
  • drafti
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰreǵ- →