Where does “forflutter” come from?

forflutter (English) comes from English flutter, from Middle English floteren, from Old English floterian, from Old English flotian, from Frankish flotōn, from Proto-Germanic flutōną, from Proto-Indo-European plewd-, from Proto-Indo-European plew- — to fly, flow, run.

forflutter (English): To disorder; discompose; To agitate; A state of...

Definitions

  1. To disorder; discompose; To agitate; A state of...

Ancestry of “forflutter”, step by step

forflutter traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English flutter

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishflutterTo flap or wave quickly but irregularly; Of a...
2Middle EnglishfloterenTo be held up or be supported by water; to float;...
3Old Englishfloterianto float
4Old Englishflotianto float
5Frankishflotōnto float, swim
6Proto-Germanicflutōnąto float; drift
7Proto-Indo-Europeanplewd-to fly, flow, run
8Proto-Indo-Europeanplew-to fly, flow, run

via English for

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishforBecause, as, since; Towards; in the direction of;...
2Middle Englishforfor
3Old Englishfōrjourney; going, course, journey
4Proto-West Germanicfurifor; before; forward
5Proto-Germanicfurifor, before; before, forward
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpreh₂-before, in front
7Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed
Every word from Proto-Indo-European plew-Every word from Proto-Indo-European plewd-Every word from Proto-Germanic flutōną
forflutter — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer