Where does “gingersnap” come from?

gingersnap (English) comes from English Ginger, from English gingerly, from English -ly, from English grisly, from Middle English grisely, from Old English grisliċ, from Old English -līċ, from Proto-Germanic *-līk.

gingersnap (English): A type of biscuit or cookie made from dough seasoned with ginger

Definitions

  1. A type of biscuit or cookie made from dough seasoned with ginger

Ancestry of “gingersnap”, step by step

gingersnap traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Ginger

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishGingerand nickname. Popularized by actress Ginger Rogers
2EnglishgingerlyIn a delicate and cautious manner; Very careful...
3English-lyUsed to form adjectives from nouns, the...
4EnglishgrislyHorrifyingly repellent; gruesome, terrifying;...
5Middle Englishgrisely
6Old Englishgrisliċgrisly, horrible; dreadful, horrid
7Old English-līċsuffix forming {{glossary|adjective}}s meaning...
8Proto-Germanic*-līk

via English snap

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsnapA quick breaking or cracking sound or the action...
2Dutchsnappento get, to understand; to catch in the act
3Middle Dutchsnappen
Every word from Proto-Germanic *-līkEvery word from English -lyEvery word from Old English -līċ