Where does “gimp” come from?
Gimp comes from Middle English gimpe, possibly from Old French guimpe meaning a wimple or thin fabric garment, though the ultimate origin remains uncertain.
gimp (English): A narrow ornamental fabric or braid of silk,...
Definitions
- A narrow ornamental fabric or braid of silk,...
Ancestry of “gimp”, step by step
gimp traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via French guimpe
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | guimpe | wimple |
| 2 | Middle French | guimpe | — |
| 3 | Old French | guimple | wimple |
| 4 | Frankish | wimpil | head scarf |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | wimpilaz | a head covering; wimple; scarf; veil |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | wīpaną | to wind, wrap |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wimb- | — |
via Dutch gimp
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dutch | gimp | — |