Where does “fishy” come from?
Fishy derives from Middle English fishi, though the ultimate origin and earliest meaning remain uncertain.
fishy (English): Diminutive of fish; Of, from, or similar to fish;...
Definitions
- Diminutive of fish; Of, from, or similar to fish;...
Ancestry of “fishy”, step by step
fishy traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Fish
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Fish | The constellation and zodiacal sign Pisces |
| 2 | Old English | fiscian | to fish |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | fiskōn | to fish, to catch fish |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | fiskōną | to fish, to catch fish |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | -ōną | Creates denominative verbs from nouns; Creates... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | -eh₂yéti | Creates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -yéti | Creates intransitive, often deponent,... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | yé- | — |
| 9 | Chichewa | iye | he, she |
via Middle English fishi
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | fishi | — |