Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “gaydar” come from?

gaydar (English) comes from English RADAR, from English ranging, from English range, from Middle English rengen, from Old French rengier, from Old French reng, from Latin rencus, from Gaulish rekos — to set in order.

gaydar (English): The supposed ability to detect whether or not a...

Definitions

  1. The supposed ability to detect whether or not a...

Ancestry of “gaydar”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishRADARAcronym of radio detection and ranging
2Englishrangingpresent participle of range; Act of one who...
3EnglishrangeA line or series of mountains, buildings, etc; A...
4Middle Englishrengen—
5Old Frenchrengierto line up; to form ranks
6Old Frenchrengplace; position
7Latinrencusrow; order, rank
8Gaulishrekos—
9Proto-Celticreketito arrange
10Proto-Indo-European(H)rek-to set in order

Words derived from “gaydar”

  • gaydar
  • gaydar
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (H)rek- →