Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “fat” come from?

Fat derives from Old English fæt, from Proto-Germanic fatą, from Proto-Indo-European pod-, ultimately traced to Proto-Indo-European peyH-.

fat (English): Carrying more fat than usual on one's body;...

Definitions

  1. Carrying more fat than usual on one's body;...

Ancestry of “fat”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchfatconceited
2Old Occitanfat—
3Latinfatuusfoolish, silly, simple; stupid; insipid,...
4Latinfātus—
5Latinfor"defective"; I speak, talk, say
6Proto-Italicfāōrspeak
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰéh₂tito speak, to be talking

Words derived from “fat”

  • fatty
  • fattening
  • fatten
  • nonfat
  • butterfat
  • fathead
  • phat
  • fatback
  • fatly
  • fibrofatty
  • fattish
  • milkfat
  • overfat
  • fatling
  • marrowfat
  • bodyfat
  • backfat
  • antifat
  • fatlike
  • fattiness
  • fatheaded
  • fatless
  • fattener
  • fatphobia
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰéh₂ti →