Where does “duckling” come from?
Duckling comes from Middle English dokeling, formed from Middle English duce, from Old English duce with the diminutive suffix -a, ultimately from Proto-Germanic -ilaz and Proto-Indo-European -elo-.
duckling (English): A young duck
Ancestry of “duckling”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | -ling | small, immature, miniature; follower or resident;... |
| 2 | Middle English | -ling | — |
| 3 | Old English | -ling | adverbial suffix denoting direction, state or... |
| 4 | Old English | lang | long; lasting; old, ancient; advanced |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | lang | long |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | langaz | long |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | dlongʰos | long |