Where does “fickle” come from?

Fickle comes from Middle English fikil, from Old English ficol, derived from the Proto-Indo-European root peyǵ- meaning to cut or separate, referring to something easily divided or changeable.

fickle (English): Quick to change one’s opinion or allegiance;...

Definitions

  1. Quick to change one’s opinion or allegiance;...

Ancestry of “fickle”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishfikil—
2Old Englishficoldeceitful; crafty; false
3Old Englishficianto deceive; bewile, mislead, con
4Proto-Germanicfikōnąto deceive
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpeyǵ-inactive, reluctant

Words derived from “fickle”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European peyǵ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic fikōną →Every word from Old English fician →