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
- The supposed ability to detect whether or not a...
Ancestry of “gaydar”, step by step
gaydar traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English RADAR
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | RADAR | Acronym of radio detection and ranging |
| 2 | English | ranging | present participle of range; Act of one who... |
| 3 | English | range | A line or series of mountains, buildings, etc; A... |
| 4 | Middle English | rengen | — |
| 5 | Old French | rengier | to line up; to form ranks |
| 6 | Old French | reng | place; position |
| 7 | Latin | rencus | row; order, rank |
| 8 | Gaulish | rekos | — |
| 9 | Proto-Celtic | reketi | to arrange |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | (H)rek- | to set in order |
via English Gay
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Gay | originally a nickname for a cheerful or lively person |
| 2 | English | Queen | A title used before the personal name of a queen |
| 3 | Middle English | quene | A queen; Any powerful woman noble; A female... |
| 4 | Old English | cwene | a woman; inflection of cwēn: ##... |
| 5 | Old English | cwēn | queen; woman, wife, queen |
| 6 | Proto-West Germanic | kwāni | woman, wife |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | kwēniz | wife |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷḗn | woman |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷen- | woman |