Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “fink” come from?

fink (English) comes from Afrikaans vink, from Dutch vink, from Middle Dutch vinke, from Proto-Germanic finkiz, from Proto-Indo-European (s)pingos — chaffinch.

fink (English): A contemptible person; An informer; A...

Definitions

  1. A contemptible person; An informer; A...

Ancestry of “fink”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1AfrikaansvinkA finch
2DutchvinkA chaffinch; One of many other birds of the...
3Middle Dutchvinke—
4Proto-Germanicfinkizfinch
5Proto-Indo-European(s)pingoschaffinch

Words derived from “fink”

  • ratfink
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)pingos →