Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “dust” come from?

Dust comes from Old English dūst, from Proto-Germanic dunstą, from Proto-Indo-European dʰew-, meaning to rise in clouds or scatter.

dust (English): Fine particles; The act of cleaning by dusting;...

Definitions

  1. Fine particles; The act of cleaning by dusting;...

Ancestry of “dust”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germandust—
2Middle Low Germandust—
3Old Frenchjostejoust
4LatinjuxtaAlternative form of iū̆xtā; near to, nigh
5Latiniuxtanearly; near, close to; just as
6Proto-Italicjougestād—
7Proto-Italicjougestos—
8Proto-Italicjougosyoked animals, team
9Proto-Indo-Europeanyéwgosteam, pair of yoked animals
10Proto-Indo-Europeanyewg-to join, to yoke, to tie together

Words derived from “dust”

  • sawdust
  • duster
  • dustbin
  • dustpan
  • dustman
  • stardust
  • dustless
  • brickdust
  • dustup
  • dustbowl
  • dustheap
  • dustcloud
  • duststorm
  • coaldust
  • dustcoat
  • dustproof
  • dustlike
  • dustcart
  • sawdusty
  • dustcover
  • dustcloth
  • moondust
  • deduster
  • dustfree
Every word from Proto-Indo-European yewg- →