Where does “finagle” come from?
finagle (English) comes from English fainaigue, from English fain, from Middle English fain, from Old English fægen, from Proto-Germanic *fagan, from Proto-Germanic faganaz, from Proto-Indo-European peḱ- — to pluck; livestock; wealth.
finagle (English): To obtain, arrange, or achieve by indirect,...
Definitions
- To obtain, arrange, or achieve by indirect,...
Ancestry of “finagle”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | fainaigue | To evade work or shirk responsibility; To renege... |
| 2 | English | fain | Well-pleased, glad; Satisfied, contented; Eager,... |
| 3 | Middle English | fain | joyful, happy; willing, eager; pleasing,... |
| 4 | Old English | fægen | joyful, rejoicing, fain |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | *fagan | — |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | faganaz | glad |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | peḱ- | to pluck; livestock; wealth |